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Materials and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "B: Energy and Environment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2021) | Viewed by 32461

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Gabriele Di Giacomo

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Guest Editor

Department of Industrial and Information Engineering & Economics, University of L'Aquila, Via G. Gronchi, 18, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
Interests: biowaste; renewable energy; renewable materials; hydrothermal carbonization; pyrolysis; supercritical fluids; food & beverages; environmental impact; circular economy; supercritical water oxidation; adsorption; soil and water contamination

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue (SI) aims to update the state of the art on the final disposal of organic waste with the simultaneous production of energy and high quality materials.

More specifically, the following topics will be examined and quantified:

Inventory and cataloging of organic waste (BWs);
Traditional disposal technologies no longer applicable, current technologies, advanced technologies in the industrialization phase, and R&D activities;
Short-medium term contribution of BWs to global energy needs;
Traditional and advanced products, energy for transportation, heating and cooling, and industrial production;
Photosynthetic micro-algae as third generation biofuel and CO₂ sequestration;
Quantification of the benefits in energy, environmental, and economic terms.

As is customary, this SI will include both comprehensive reviews as well as original scientific papers, which will be subjected to a peer-review process before publication to ensure their quality.

Prof. Dr. Gabriele Di Giacomo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Organic waste
Woody pellets
Biogas
Bioethanol
Biohydrogen
Hydrothermal carbonization
CO2 emission
Integrated power plants
Energetic feasibility

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 156 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Material and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste

by Gabriele Di Giacomo

Energies 2021, 14(24), 8459; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14248459 - 15 Dec 2021

Viewed by 1497

Abstract

While receiving nearly 10,000 times the energy that we presently need from the Sun, almost 600 EJ/a, developed and developing countries continue to mostly use fossil fuels even though the technologies available and the adaptation of individual and collective behaviours could make it [...] Read more.

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste)

Research

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13 pages, 2278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modern Use of Water Produced by Purification of Municipal Wastewater: A Case Study

by Giorgia Tomassi, Pietro Romano and Gabriele Di Giacomo

Energies 2021, 14(22), 7610; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14227610 - 14 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2072

Abstract

All the urban areas of developed countries have hydric distribution grids and sewage systems for collecting municipal wastewater to treatment plants. In this way, the municipal wastewater is purified from human excreta and other minor contaminants while producing excess sludges and purified water. In arid and semi-arid areas of the world, the purified water can be used, before discharging, to enhance the energy efficiency of seawater desalination and solve the problems of marine pollution created by desalination plants. Over the past half-century, seawater desalination has gradually met demand in urbanized, oil-rich, arid areas. At the same time, technological evolution has made it possible to significantly increase the energy efficiency of the plants and reduce the unit cost of the produced water. However, for some years, these trends have flattened out. The purified water passes through the hybridized desalination plant and produces renewable osmotic energy before the final discharge in the sea to restart the descent behaviour. Current technological development of reverse osmosis (RO), pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) and very efficient energy recovery devices (ERDs) allows this. Furthermore, it is reasonable to predict that, in the short-medium term, a new generation of membranes specifically designed for improving the performance of the pressure retarded osmosis will be available. In such circumstances, the presently estimated 13-20% decrease of the specific energy consumption will improve up to more than 30%. With the hybrid plant, the salinity of the final discharged brine is like that of seawater, while the adverse effect of GHG emission will be significantly mitigated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste)

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19 pages, 5026 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adsorptive Recovery of Cd(II) Ions with the Use of Post-Production Waste Generated in the Brewing Industry

by Tomasz Kalak, Jakub Walczak and Malgorzata Ulewicz

Energies 2021, 14(17), 5543; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14175543 - 5 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1501

Abstract

Post-production waste generated in the brewing industry was used to analyze the possibility of Cd(II) ion recovery in biosorption processes. Brewer’s grains (BG), which are waste products from beer manufacturing processes, are a promising material that can be reused for biosorption. The biomass contains appropriate functional groups from fats, proteins, raw fibers, amino acids, carbohydrates and starch, showing a strong affinity for binding metal ions and their removal from wastewater. The biosorbent material was characterized by several research methods, such as particle size distribution, elemental composition and mapping using SEM-EDX analysis, specific surface area and pore volume (BET, BJH), thermogravimetry, electrokinetic zeta potential, SEM morphology and FT-IR spectrometry. Initial and equilibrium pH, adsorbent dosage, initial metal concentration and contact time were parameters examined in the research. The highest biosorption efficiency was obtained at a level of 93.9%. Kinetics analysis of the processes and sorption isotherms were also carried out. Based on the conducted experiments, it was found that this material has binding properties in relation to Cd(II) ions and can be used for wastewater treatment purposes, being a low-cost biosorbent. This research studies are in line with current global trends of circular and sustainable economies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste)

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8 pages, 1983 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Pilot-Scale Experiences with Aerobic Treatment and Chemical Processes of Industrial Wastewaters from Electronics and Semiconductor Industry

by Valentina Innocenzi, Svetlana B. Zueva, Francesco Vegliò and Ida De Michelis

Energies 2021, 14(17), 5340; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14175340 - 27 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1732

Abstract

TMAH is quaternary ammonium salt, consists of a methylated nitrogen molecule, and is widely used in the electronics industry as a developer and silicon etching agent. This substance is toxic and fatal if ingested. It can also cause skin burns, eye damage, and organ damage. Moreover, TMAH exhibits long-lasting toxicity to aquatic systems. Despite this known toxicity, the authorities currently do not provide emission limits (i.e., discharge concentrations) for wastewater by EU regulation. The current scenario necessitates the study of the processes for industrial wastewater containing TMAH. This work aims to present a successful example of the treatment process for the degradation of TMAH waste solutions of the E&S industry. Research was conducted at the pilot scale, and the process feasibility (both technical and economic) and its environmental sustainability are demonstrated. This process, which treats three exhausted solutions with a high concentration of toxic substances, is considered to be innovative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste)

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8 pages, 1484 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental and Economic Aspects of Biomethane Production from Organic Waste in Russia

by Svetlana Zueva, Andrey A. Kovalev, Yury V. Litti, Nicolò M. Ippolito, Valentina Innocenzi and Ida De Michelis

Energies 2021, 14(17), 5244; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14175244 - 24 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1952

Abstract

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), only a tiny fraction of the full potential of energy from biomass is currently exploited in the world. Biogas is a good source of energy and heat, and a clean fuel. Converting it to biomethane creates a product that combines all the benefits of natural gas with zero greenhouse gas emissions. This is important given that the methane contained in biogas is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO₂). The total amount of CO₂ emission avoided due to the installation of biogas plants is around 3380 ton/year, as 1 m³ of biogas corresponds to 0.70 kg of CO₂ saved. In Russia, despite the huge potential, the development of bioenergy is rather on the periphery, due to the abundance of cheap hydrocarbons and the lack of government support. Based on the data from an agro-industrial plant located in Central Russia, the authors of the article demonstrate that biogas technologies could be successfully used in Russia, provided that the Russian Government adopted Western-type measures of financial incentives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste)

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19 pages, 7217 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Challenges in Sustainable Degradability of Bio-Based and Oxo-Degradable Packaging Materials during Anaerobic Thermophilic Treatment

by Magdalena Zaborowska, Katarzyna Bernat, Bartosz Pszczółkowski, Irena Wojnowska-Baryła and Dorota Kulikowska

Energies 2021, 14(16), 4775; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14164775 - 5 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1666

Abstract

Although the manufacturers labelled commercially available bio-based products as biodegradable, there are discrepancies concerning the time frame for their sustainable biodegradation and methane production. Starch-based, polylactic acid-based and oxo-degradable foils were anaerobically treated in thermophilic condition (55 °C, 100 days). The effect of alkaline pretreatment on foils degradation was also investigated. To examine changes in their mechanical and physical properties, static tensile tests and microscopic analyses, FTIR and surface roughness analyses were conducted. Despite the thermophilic condition, and the longer retention time compared to that needed for biowaste, a small amount of methane was produced with bio-based foils, even after pretreatment (ca. 30 vs. 50 L/kg VS) and foils only lost functional and mechanical properties. The pieces of bio-based materials had only disintegrated, which means that digestate may become contaminated with fragments of these materials. Thus, providing guidelines for bio-based foil treatment remains a challenge in waste management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste)

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19 pages, 5359 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Valorization of Sewage Sludge on Energy Consumption in the Drying Process

by Ewa Siedlecka and Jarosław Siedlecki

Energies 2021, 14(15), 4511; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14154511 - 26 Jul 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2091

Abstract

Valorization of digested sewage sludge generated in a medium-sized sewage treatment plant and the effect of valorization on energy consumption during sludge drying used for energy recovery are presented. Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge reduces dry matter content compared to raw sludge. This lowers its calorific value leading to the lower interest of consumers in using it as fuel. The aim of the study was to valorize digested sewage sludge prior to drying with high-energy waste with low moisture content. The procedure led to the reduction in moisture content by about 50% in the substrate supplied for solidification and drying. The calorific value of digested sewage sludge increased by 50–80%, and the energy consumption of the drying process decreased by about 50%. Physical and chemical properties of sewage sludge and moisture content of substrates and mixtures after valorization were determined. The heat of combustion of valorized sewage sludge mixtures, their elemental composition, and ash content is investigated. Their calorific value in the analytical and working states of 10% H₂O was calculated. The highest calorific value was obtained for the mixture of sewage sludge valorized with waste plastics or combined with wood dust, averaging 23 MJ/kg. A mathematical approximation of sewage sludge valorization is presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste)

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17 pages, 1672 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anaerobic Degradation of Environmentally Hazardous Aquatic Plant Pistia stratiotes and Soluble Cu(II) Detoxification by Methanogenic Granular Microbial Preparation

by Olesia Havryliuk, Vira Hovorukha, Oleksandr Savitsky, Volodymyr Trilis, Antonina Kalinichenko, Agnieszka Dołhańczuk-Śródka, Daniel Janecki and Oleksandr Tashyrev

Energies 2021, 14(13), 3849; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14133849 - 25 Jun 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2527

Abstract

The aquatic plant Pistia stratiotes L. is environmentally hazardous and requires effective methods for its utilization. The harmfulness of these plants is determined by their excessive growth in water bodies and degradation of local aquatic ecosystems. Mechanical removal of these plants is widespread but requires fairly resource-intensive technology. However, these aquatic plants are polymer-containing substrates and have a great potential for conversion into bioenergy. The aim of the work was to determine the main patterns of Pistia stratiotes L. degradation via granular microbial preparation (GMP) to obtain biomethane gas while simultaneously detoxifying toxic copper compounds. The composition of the gas phase was determined via gas chromatography. The pH and redox potential parameters were determined potentiometrically, and Cu(II) concentration photocolorimetrically. Applying the preparation, high efficiency of biomethane fermentation of aquatic plants and Cu(II) detoxification were achieved. Biomethane yield reached 68.0 ± 11.1 L/kg VS of Pistia stratiotes L. biomass. The plants’ weight was decreased by 9 times. The Cu(II) was completely removed after 3 and 10 days of fermentation from initial concentrations of 100 ppm and 200 ppm, respectively. The result confirms the possibility of using the GMP to obtain biomethane from environmentally hazardous substrates and detoxify copper-contaminated fluids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste)

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16 pages, 1264 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effective Management of Organic Waste Policy in Albania

by Ionica Oncioiu, Sorinel Căpuşneanu, Dan Ioan Topor, Marius Petrescu, Anca-Gabriela Petrescu and Monica Ioana Toader

Energies 2020, 13(16), 4217; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13164217 - 14 Aug 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3306

Abstract

Following a recycling or continuous recycling process, there is always waste with no material or market value that can be converted into energy or other fossil fuel substitutes. The present study aimed to evaluate the management of organic waste policy and to predict the trend of organic waste generation in Albania. The research used an appropriate Box–Jenkins Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) to determine the quantification of organic waste to be generated. The main results obtained can support the decision-making process in the planning, change and short-term implementation of organic waste management, and the information provided is very useful in collecting, transporting, storing and managing waste in Albanian cities (Tirana, Durrës, Kukës, Berat, Shkodra, Dibër, Gjirokastër and Elbasan). Furthermore, the high percentage of the organic waste generation until 2025 constitutes good premises to raising public awareness related to their energy recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste)

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Review

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22 pages, 1303 KiB

Open AccessReview

Odour Nuisance at Municipal Waste Biogas Plants and the Effect of Feedstock Modification on the Circular Economy—A Review

by Marta Wiśniewska, Andrzej Kulig and Krystyna Lelicińska-Serafin

Energies 2021, 14(20), 6470; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14206470 - 10 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2164

Abstract

The increase in the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated, among other places, in households is a result of the growing population, economic development, as well as the urbanisation of areas with accompanying insufficiently effective measures to minimise waste generation. There are many methods for treating municipal waste, with the common goal of minimising environmental degradation and maximising resource recovery. Biodegradable waste, including selectively collected biowaste (BW), also plays an essential role in the concept of the circular economy (CE), which maximises the proportion of waste that can be returned to the system through organic recycling and energy recovery. Methane fermentation is a waste treatment process that is an excellent fit for the CE, both technically, economically, and environmentally. This study aims to analyse and evaluate the problem of odour nuisance in municipal waste biogas plants (MWBPs) and the impact of the feedstock (organic fraction of MSW-OFMSW and BW) on this nuisance in the context of CE assumptions. A literature review on the subject was carried out, including the results of our own studies, showing the odour nuisance and emissions from MWBPs processing both mixed MSW and selectively collected BW. The odour nuisance of MWBPs varies greatly. Odour problems should be considered regarding particular stages of the technological line. They are especially seen at the stages of waste storage, fermentation preparation, and digestate dewatering. At examined Polish MWBPs c_od ranged from 4 to 78 ou/m³ for fermentation preparation and from 8 to 448 ou/m³ for digestate dewatering. The conclusions drawn from the literature review indicate both the difficulties and benefits that can be expected with the change in the operation of MWBPs because of the implementation of CE principles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste)

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27 pages, 1305 KiB

Open AccessReview

Operational Parameters of Biogas Plants: A Review and Evaluation Study

by Abdullah Nsair, Senem Onen Cinar, Ayah Alassali, Hani Abu Qdais and Kerstin Kuchta

Energies 2020, 13(15), 3761; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13153761 - 22 Jul 2020

Cited by 92 | Viewed by 10651

Abstract

The biogas production technology has improved over the last years for the aim of reducing the costs of the process, increasing the biogas yields, and minimizing the greenhouse gas emissions. To obtain a stable and efficient biogas production, there are several design considerations and operational parameters to be taken into account. Besides, adapting the process to unanticipated conditions can be achieved by adequate monitoring of various operational parameters. This paper reviews the research that has been conducted over the last years. This review paper summarizes the developments in biogas design and operation, while highlighting the main factors that affect the efficiency of the anaerobic digestion process. The study’s outcomes revealed that the optimum operational values of the main parameters may vary from one biogas plant to another. Additionally, the negative conditions that should be avoided while operating a biogas plant were identified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Energy Recovery from the Final Disposal of Organic Waste)

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