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Mancuso G, Habchi S, Maraldi M, Valenti F, El Bari H. Comprehensive review of technologies for separate digestate treatment and agricultural valorisation within circular and green economy. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 409:131252. [PMID: 39127359 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) has the potential to catalyse the shift from a linear to a circular economy. However, effective treatment and management of both solid (DSF) and liquid (DLF) digestate fraction treatment and management require adopting sustainable technologies to recover valuable by-products like energy, biofuels, biochar, and nutrients. This study reviews state-of-the-art advanced technologies for DSF and DLF treatment and valorisation, using life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) in integrated digestate management (IDM). Key findings highlight these technologies' potential in mitigating environmental impacts from digestate management, but there's a need to improve process efficiency, especially at larger scales. Future research should prioritize cost-effective and eco-friendly IDM technologies. This review emphasizes how LCA and TEA can guide decision-making and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Ultimately, sustainable IDM technologies can boost resource recovery and advance circular economy principles, enhancing the environmental and economic sustainability of AD processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Mancuso
- Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, viale Giuseppe Fanin 50, Bologna 40127, Italy
| | - Sanae Habchi
- Laboratory of Electronic Systems, Information Processing, Mechanics and Energetics, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
| | - Mirko Maraldi
- Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, viale Giuseppe Fanin 50, Bologna 40127, Italy
| | - Francesca Valenti
- Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, viale Giuseppe Fanin 50, Bologna 40127, Italy.
| | - Hassan El Bari
- Laboratory of Electronic Systems, Information Processing, Mechanics and Energetics, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
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Porras-Socias P, Tomasino MP, Fernandes JP, De Menezes AB, Fernández B, Collins G, Alves MJ, Castro R, Gomes CR, Almeida CMR, Mucha AP. Removal of metals and emergent contaminants from liquid digestates in constructed wetlands for agricultural reuse. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1388895. [PMID: 38903785 PMCID: PMC11187104 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1388895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Given the increasing pressure on water bodies, it is imperative to explore sustainable methodologies for wastewater treatment and reuse. The simultaneous presence of multiples contaminants in complex wastewater, such as the liquid effluents from biogas plants, can compromise biological treatment effectiveness for reclaiming water. Vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands were established as low-cost decentralized wastewater treatment technologies to treat the liquid fraction of digestate from municipal organic waste with metals, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes, to allow its reuse in irrigation. Twelve lab-scale planted constructed wetlands were assembled with gravel, light expanded clay aggregate and sand, testing four different treating conditions (liquid digestate spiked with oxytetracycline, sulfadiazine, or ofloxacin, at 100 μg/ L, or without dosing) during 3 months. Physicochemical parameters (pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), nutrients, metals, and antibiotics), the microbial communities dynamics (through 16S high-throughput sequencing) and antibiotic resistance genes removal (qPCR) were monitored in influents and effluents. Systems removed 85.8%-96.9% of organic matter (as COD), over 98.1% of ammonium and phosphate ions, and 69.3%-99.4% of nitrate and nitrite ions, with no significant differences between the presence or absence of antibiotics. Removal of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cr exceeded 82% in all treatment cycles. The treatment also removed oxytetracycline, sulfadiazine and ofloxacin over 99%, and decreased intl1, tetA, tetW, sul1 and qnrS gene copies. Nonetheless, after 3 months of ofloxacin dosing, qnrS gene started being detected. Removal processes relied on high HRT (14 days) and various mechanisms including sorption, biodegradation, and precipitation. Microbial community diversity in liquid digestate changed significantly after treatment in constructed wetlands with a decrease in the initial Firmicutes dominance, but with no clear effect of antibiotics on the microbial community structure. Removals above 85% and 94% were observed for Streptococcus and Clostridium, respectively. Results suggest that vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands were a suitable technology for treating the liquid digestate to reuse it in irrigation agricultural systems, contributing to the circular bioeconomy concept. However, a more profound understanding of effective wastewater treatment strategies is needed to avoid antibiotic resistance genes dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pau Porras-Socias
- CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Microbiology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Sustainability in Biosystems Programme, IRTA, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, Caldes de Montbui, Spain
| | - Maria Paola Tomasino
- CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Joana P. Fernandes
- CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Alexandre B. De Menezes
- Microbiology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Belén Fernández
- Sustainability in Biosystems Programme, IRTA, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, Caldes de Montbui, Spain
| | - Gavin Collins
- Microbiology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Maria João Alves
- TratoLixo—Tratamento de Resíduos Sólidos, E.I.M. S.A., São Domingos de Rana, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Castro
- TratoLixo—Tratamento de Resíduos Sólidos, E.I.M. S.A., São Domingos de Rana, Portugal
| | - Carlos R. Gomes
- CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - C. Marisa R. Almeida
- CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Paula Mucha
- CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal
- Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Sobolewska E, Borowski S, Kręgiel D. Cultivation of yeasts on liquid digestate to remove organic pollutants and nutrients and for potential application as co-culture with microalgae. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 362:121351. [PMID: 38838535 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
In this study, the growth of yeast and yeast-like fungi in the liquid digestate from vegetable wastes was investigated in order to remove nutrients and organic pollutants, and for their application as co-culture members with green microalgae. The studied yeast strains were characterized for their assimilative and enzymatic profiles as well as temperature requirements. In the first experimental stage, the growth dynamics of each strain were determined, allowing to select the best yeasts for further studies. In the subsequent stage, the ability of selectants to remove organic pollutants was assessed. Different cultivation media containing respectively 1:3, 1:1, 3:1 vol ratio of liquid digestate and the basal minimal medium were used. Among all tested yeast strains, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa DSM 70825 showed the most promising results, demonstrating the highest potential for removing organic substrates and nutrients. Depending on the medium, this strain achieved 50-80% sCOD, 45-60% tVFAs, 21-45% TN, 33-52% PO43- reduction rates. Similar results were obtained for the strain Candida sp. OR687571. The high nutrient and organics removal efficiency by these yeasts could likely be linked to their ability to assimilate xylose (being the main source of carbon in the liquid digestate). In culture media containing liquid digestate, both yeast strains achieved good viability and proliferation potential. In the liquid digestate medium, R. mucilaginosa and Candida sp. showed vitality at the level of 51.5% and 45.0%, respectively. These strains seem to be a good starting material for developing effective digestate treatment strategies involving monocultures and/or consortia with other yeasts or green microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Sobolewska
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Wólczańska 171/173, 90-530, Lodz, Poland; Interdisciplinary Doctoral School, Lodz University of Technology, Żeromskiego 116, 90-924, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Sebastian Borowski
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Wólczańska 171/173, 90-530, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Dorota Kręgiel
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Wólczańska 171/173, 90-530, Lodz, Poland.
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Agyeman-Duah E, Okonkwo CC, Ujor VC. Microbial removal of nutrients from anaerobic digestate: assessing product-coupled and non-product-coupled approaches. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1299402. [PMID: 38146449 PMCID: PMC10749329 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1299402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Although anaerobic digestate contains >90% water, the high nutrient content of digestate makes it economically and technically intractable to treatment by existing wastewater treatment technologies. This study separately assessed the feasibility of nutrient removal from digestate by Rhizopus delemar DSM 905 and a culture of phosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs). With Rhizopus delemar DSM 905, we investigated concomitant nutrient removal from digestate-supplemented medium and fumaric acid production, as a potentially economical strategy for digestate treatment. Following the cultivation of R. delemar DSM 905 in a fermentation medium containing 25% (v/v) digestate, the concentrations of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb, and Zn reduced 40, 12, 74, 96, 12, 26, 23%, ~18, and 28%, respectively. Similarly, the concentrations of total phosphorus, total nitrogen, phosphate (PO4-P), ammonium (NH4-N), nitrate (NO3-N), and sulfur decreased 93, 88, 97, 98, 69, and 13%, respectively. Concomitantly, cultures supplemented with 25 and 15% (v/v) digestate produced comparable titers of fumarate (~11 and ~ 17 g/L, respectively) to the digestate un-supplemented control cultures. With PAOs, we assessed the removal of total phosphorus, total nitrogen, PO4-P, and NH4-N, of which the concentrations reduced 86, 90%, ~99, and 100%, respectively in 60% (v/v) digestate. This study provides additional bases for microbial removal of excess nutrients from anaerobic digestate, with the potential to engender future water recovery from this waste stream that is currently largely recalcitrant to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Agyeman-Duah
- Fermentation Science and Metabolic Engineering Group, Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Christopher C. Okonkwo
- Biotechnology Program, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, The Roux Institute, Northeastern University, Portland, ME, United States
| | - Victor C. Ujor
- Fermentation Science and Metabolic Engineering Group, Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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