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Fermentation
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Anaerobic Digestion: Waste to Energy: 2nd Edition
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Anaerobic Digestion: Waste to Energy: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Fermentation (ISSN 2311-5637). This special issue belongs to the section "Industrial Fermentation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 4127

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Kenji Sakai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
Interests: anaerobic digestion; molecular microbiology and environmental biotechnology; waste treatment; thermophilic organisms; mixed culture system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Anaerobic digestion is a sequence of microbial degradation processes of complex organic matter under anoxic conditions, in which macromolecules are broken down to mainly produce methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and ammonia as final gas products in the absence of oxygen. The process constitutes a series of complex microbial transforming steps, including hydrolysis/acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis; it is sometimes called methane fermentation. Anaerobic digestion is widely applied for both industrial and domestic purposes to treat and stabilize waste and wastewater while recovering biogas. After easily degradable organic carbon is removed, the nutrient-rich sludge and digestate that remain could be recycled as (liquid) fertilizer. In addition, anaerobic digestion also occurs in paddy fields and in domestic animals’ intestines in agriculture, which are sources of abortive greenhouse gases. As part of an integrated solid waste management system, anaerobic digestion reduces the emission of landfill gas into the atmosphere.

Thus, anaerobic digestion has received considerable attention due being a source of renewable energy and enabling nutrient recovery from waste streams. Despite extensive research, anaerobic digestion needs to be studied further to improve the efficiency of the process both in terms of the microbial aspect and process engineering. In addition, recent analytical advancements in microbial community structures and functions enable a precise understanding of the complex transformation steps within a dynamic mixed culture system.

For this Special Issue, we invite the submission of original research articles and critical reviews focusing on anaerobic digestion regarding various process- and microbial-related aspects, including laboratory-scale process designs and plant-scale case studies.

Prof. Dr. Kenji Sakai
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fermentation is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biogas production
  • methane fermentation
  • waste treatment
  • mixed culture system
  • microbial community structure (and function)
  • digestate utilization (liquid fertilizer)
  • sludge utilization (composting)
  • mitigation of greenhouse gas
  • bio-energy and renewable energy
  • organic waste treatment (management and valorization stabilization)
  • acidogenesis/acetogenesis/methanogenesis
  • anaerobic digestion
  • waste recycling

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1161 KiB  
Article
Characteristics of Solid Fuel from Carbonized Surface Pellets Using Food Waste Digestion Sludge and Unused Forest Biomass: A Case Study in South Korea
by Kwang-Ho Ahn, Ye-Eun Lee, Yoonah Jeong, Jinhong Jung and I-Tae Kim
Fermentation 2024, 10(12), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10120658 - 19 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1114
Abstract
The promulgation of the Biogas Act in South Korea has increased the number of organic waste treatment facilities and the amount of food waste digestion sludge (FWDS), a byproduct of the biogas process. FWDS recovery involves various challenges, which leads to the accumulation [...] Read more.
The promulgation of the Biogas Act in South Korea has increased the number of organic waste treatment facilities and the amount of food waste digestion sludge (FWDS), a byproduct of the biogas process. FWDS recovery involves various challenges, which leads to the accumulation or improper disposal of sludge. Hence, FWDS needs to be treated in environmentally sound and safe ways. In this study, anaerobic digestion sludges were mixed with unused forest biomass to produce fuel. The results showed that pellets produced via mixing of FWDS with unused forest biomass had improved durability, bulk density, and fine particle performance compared to surface-carbonized wood pellets. Carbonized pellets manufactured with 30% FWDS had a moisture content of 11.746% and met all biosolid waste fuel (SRF) standards, except for moisture content. Carbonized pellets prepared with 15% FWDS met the L2 wood pellet standards for ash content (less than 3.0%) and bulk density (greater than 550 kg/m3), as well as all other standard values in both the industrial wood pellet quality standards and bio-SRF criteria. This study confirmed the potential and suitability of digestion sludge and unused forest biomass for fuel utilization by addressing their respective limitations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anaerobic Digestion: Waste to Energy: 2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 1896 KiB  
Article
Efficient Two-Stage Meso- and Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste from a Microbial Perspective
by Katsuaki Ohdoi, Yoshihiro Okamoto, Tomonori Koga, Haruka Takahashi, Mugihito Oshiro, Toshihito Morimitsu, Hideki Muraoka, Yukihiro Tashiro and Kenji Sakai
Fermentation 2024, 10(12), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10120607 - 28 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1162
Abstract
Two-stage meso- and thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TSMTAD) of food waste was examined and its microbiological structure was investigated. The first stage was designed for the primary storage of perishable food waste and the second stage for central biogas production. Mesophilic storage with initial [...] Read more.
Two-stage meso- and thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TSMTAD) of food waste was examined and its microbiological structure was investigated. The first stage was designed for the primary storage of perishable food waste and the second stage for central biogas production. Mesophilic storage with initial neutralization and inoculation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) resulted in an accumulation of lactic acid (21–23 g/L) with a decreased pH, in which bacterial members in facultative hetero-fermentation-type LAB dominated. Repeated fed-batch storage showed stable accumulation of lactic acid, retaining 89.3% (av.) carbon and preventing the growth of exogenous food pathogens. When the second stage of TSMTAD was compared with direct single-stage anaerobic digestion (SSAD) at 55 °C, the amount of methane accumulated was 1.48-fold higher (896 NmL/g-vs.). The methane yield of the original food refuse was 6.9% higher in the case of TSMTAD. The microbial community structures of both cases were similar, consisting of a sole thermophilic hydrogen-assimilating methanogen, Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. However, the abundance of bacteria belonging to two functional groups, H2 CO2 and acetic acid producer, and syntrophic acetate-oxidizing bacteria increased in TSMTAD. This may change the metabolic pathway, contributing to the stimulation of methane productivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anaerobic Digestion: Waste to Energy: 2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 1425 KiB  
Article
Biomethane Potential of Beef Cattle Slaughterhouse Waste and the Impact of Co-Digestion with Cattle Feces and Swine Slurry
by Anriansyah Renggaman, Hong Lim Choi, Sartika Indah Amalia Sudiarto, Arumuganainar Suresh and Yong Cheol Jeon
Fermentation 2024, 10(10), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10100510 - 7 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1360
Abstract
Slaughterhouse waste (SW) poses significant environmental challenges due to its complex composition, but anaerobic digestion offers a way to recover valuable biogas from SW. This study investigated the anaerobic co-digestion of beef cattle slaughterhouse waste (BCSW) with either cattle feces (CF) or swine [...] Read more.
Slaughterhouse waste (SW) poses significant environmental challenges due to its complex composition, but anaerobic digestion offers a way to recover valuable biogas from SW. This study investigated the anaerobic co-digestion of beef cattle slaughterhouse waste (BCSW) with either cattle feces (CF) or swine slurry (SS). The biomethane potential, maximum methane yield (Mmax), lag phase duration, and effective digestion time (Teff) for the individual substrates and the combinations were analyzed. BCSW alone exhibited Mmax of 578.5 Nml CH4/g VSadded with a lag phase of 11 days, while CF and SS alone exhibited Mmax of 397.2 and 289.8 Nml CH4/g VSadded, respectively. Co-digestion of BCSW and SS resulted in Mmax increase of 48–75.5%, with negligible effects on Teff compared to solitary SS digestion. Similarly, co-digestion of BCSW and CF increased Mmax by 6.2–40.4%, with no significant impact on Teff compared to solitary CF digestion. However, both co-digestions led to a reduction in Mmax (12.1–27%) when compared to BCSW digestion alone. Co-digestion with SS shortened the lag phase duration by 2.8–7.8 days and accelerated Teff by 5.8–8.3 days due to SS’s high concentrations of essential micronutrients like cobalt and nickel which aid digestion. This study concluded that co-digestion of BCSW with SS is an effective strategy for enhancing methane production and digestion efficiency, offering a viable approach for proper disposal of BCSW while improving biogas output. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anaerobic Digestion: Waste to Energy: 2nd Edition)
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