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Petrovič A, Zirngast K, Predikaka TC, Simonič M, Čuček L. The advantages of co-digestion of vegetable oil industry by-products and sewage sludge: Biogas production potential, kinetic analysis and digestate valorisation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 318:115566. [PMID: 35779298 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The production of edible vegetable oils generates considerable amounts of energy-rich waste, which is usually not utilised fully. Besides, inefficient management of such wastes can have a negative impact on the environment. On the other hand, this waste can also serve as a raw material for the production of high value-added products, such is biogas. The mono-digestion of seven different by-products and wastes from the vegetable oil industry was investigated in this study: Pumpkin seeds press cake (PSPC), grape seeds press cake (GSPC), olive mill pomace (OMP), coconut oil cake (CC), filtration additive (FA), spent bleaching earth (SBE) and sludge from a vegetable oil industry (SOI) wastewater treatment plant. In addition, co-digestion of these substrates was performed with municipal sewage sludge (SS). Besides inoculum, rumen fluid was added to the reactors to enhance biogas production. The biogas production potential of the tested substrates was monitored by measuring various parameters. A kinetic analysis was later carried out and a growth test was performed on the digestates to evaluate their potential for agricultural use. The highest biogas yields in the mono-digestion test were obtained with the substrates with the highest fat content: 1402, 1288, 830 and 750 mL of biogas/gVS for SOI, FA, PSPC and CC substrate, respectively. Co-digestion of SS with by-products of vegetable oil industry such as FA, SBE, CC, SOI and PSPC increased the biogas yields by 94.9%, 74.1%, 30.8%, 27.4% and 23.6% compared to SS mono-digestion. Furthermore, the data for mono-digestion of PSPC, GSPC, and FA, and co-digestion of SS with these substrates, CC and SBE, have not been found in the literature to date. The maximum methane content ranged from 61 to 74 vol%, while the chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency ranged from 42 to 78%. Relatively high fatty acids contents and ammonium concentrations were measured in the reactors. Kinetic analysis showed the best fit to the experimental data for the Cone kinetic model (R2 > 0.98). The First order kinetic model, Monod, and the modified Gompertz model also exhibited high R2 values. The digestates obtained from co-digestion proved to be excellent in the cress seeds growth test at digestate concentrations of 5-10 wt%, while higher concentrations had a toxic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Petrovič
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia.
| | - Klavdija Zirngast
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Tjaša Cenčič Predikaka
- IKEMA d.o.o., Institute for Chemistry, Ecology, Measurements and Analytics, Lovrenc na Dravskem polju 4, 2324 Lovrenc na Dravskem polju, Slovenia
| | - Marjana Simonič
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Lidija Čuček
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia
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2
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Yoon J, Bae J, Kang S, Cho BK, Oh MK. Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate production in acetate minimal medium using engineered Methylorubrum extorquens AM1. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 353:127127. [PMID: 35398538 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Acetate is regarded as a sustainable microbial feedstock that is synthesized from biowastes such as synthesis gas (syngas), carbon dioxide, lignocellulose, or organic waste. In this study, Methylorubrum extorquens AM1 was engineered to improve the production of bioplastic poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) using acetate as the sole carbon source. To utilize acetate as a carbon source and methanol as an energy source, acs encoding acetyl-CoA synthetase and fdh from Burkholderia stabilis were overexpressed, while ftfL involved in the assimilation of methanol into formyl-tetrahydrofolate was deleted. The yields of biomass and PHB from acetate significantly improved, and the growth rate and PHB content of the bacteria increased. In addition, sustainability of the PHB production was demonstrated using acetate derived from carbon dioxide and syngas. This study shows that biopolymers could be synthesized efficiently using acetate as the sole carbon source through metabolic engineering and the supply of energy cofactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihee Yoon
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyun Bae
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seulgi Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Kwan Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Kyu Oh
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Bellucci M, Borruso L, Piergiacomo F, Brusetti L, Beneduce L. The effect of substituting energy crop with agricultural waste on the dynamics of bacterial communities in a two-stage anaerobic digester. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 294:133776. [PMID: 35093420 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133776] [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: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The replacement of energy crops with agricultural waste in biogas production through anaerobic digestion (AD) is both an environmentally sustainable and economically profitable strategy. However, the change of feeding mix in AD might result in nutrient imbalance or increase of the ammonium concentration, negatively affecting the activity of the microbes responsible for the process. In the present study the structure and dynamics of the bacterial communities of a full-scale two-stage AD plant, composed of a hydrolysis/acidogenesis (H) and an acetogenesis/methanogenesis (M) tanks, was monitored during feedstock substitution. Energy crop (triticale) was replaced by poultry manure litter and olive mill pomace. The increase percentage of poultry manure litter (up to 8.6%) and olive mill pomace (up to 30.5%) in the recipe incremented the total solids (up to 21% in H) and, consequently, the nitrogen content in the digestate (6.7 g N/kg in the solid fraction in H and 4-5 g NH4+-N/L in the liquid fraction). This favored the growth of Lactococcus sp. with consequent increment of lactate production (∼ 1 mg L-1 last two days of the survey) and the establishment of Weissella and Lactobacillus spp. Syntrophic acetate-oxidizers, including Syntrophaceticus (6% ± 1.7%), were detected manly in M but were negatively affected by the addition of the poultry manure litter, while the sulfate-reducing bacteria correlated with the variations of the volatile fatty acids. Planctomycetes putatively capable of anammox process were also found in the H during the first two days of the survey and accounted for 0.3 ± 0.01% of the total bacterial community. The stability of the process during feedstock change is the result of the shift of bacterial populations of different functional groups that showed peculiar adaptation patterns in the two stages of the plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bellucci
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - L Borruso
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Piazza Università 1, 39100, Bolzano-Bozen, Italy
| | - F Piergiacomo
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Piazza Università 1, 39100, Bolzano-Bozen, Italy
| | - L Brusetti
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Piazza Università 1, 39100, Bolzano-Bozen, Italy
| | - L Beneduce
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71122, Foggia, Italy.
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Rasi S, Vainio M, Blasco L, Kahala M, Leskinen H, Tampio E. Changes in volatile fatty acid production and microbiome during fermentation of food waste from hospitality sector. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 308:114640. [PMID: 35124316 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Due to the increasing demand for low carbon-footprint bioproducts in the markets, innovative processes technologies and products are needed. The objective of this study was to assess the quality and potential of food waste (FW) from the hospitality sector to produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs). A batch type acid fermentation system was used to study VFA production in different process conditions (a decreased pH and increased organic loading rate). The evolution of VFAs and long-chain fatty acids was followed. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to investigate the bacterial and archaeal community, and elucidate microbial communities in different FW and process conditions. The results show that high VFA concentrations (of up to 18 g/L) were achieved in overloaded conditions, which were also affected by the activity and composition of the inoculum. FW played an important role in modulating microbial composition, especially the bacterial communities belonging to the lactic acid bacteria group.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Rasi
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Survontie 9 A, FI-40500, Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - M Vainio
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Tietotie 4, FI-31600, Jokioinen, Finland.
| | - L Blasco
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Tietotie 4, FI-31600, Jokioinen, Finland.
| | - M Kahala
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Tietotie 4, FI-31600, Jokioinen, Finland.
| | - H Leskinen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Tietotie 4, FI-31600, Jokioinen, Finland.
| | - E Tampio
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790, Helsinki, Finland.
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5
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Zainal A, Harun R, Idrus S. Performance Monitoring of Anaerobic Digestion at Various Organic Loading Rates of Commercial Malaysian Food Waste. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:775676. [PMID: 35402398 PMCID: PMC8988436 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.775676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Application of anaerobic digestion (AD) has become common in treating palm oil mill effluent in Malaysia; however, employing AD in treating the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), especially food waste, is still scarce. This study aims to characterize the commercial Malaysian food waste (CMFW) and determine its potential as sustainable bioenergy feedstock through biogas production. The sample was digested via the biomethane potential (BMP) test with the variation of organic loading rates (OLRs), ranging from 0.38 to 3.83 gCOD/L. day, under mesophilic conditions. The digestion process was further evaluated in continuous operation using a 6-L continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). The kinetic properties of the process were also determined. It was found that the CMFW had a significant amount of chemical oxygen demand of 230 g/L and an acidic pH of 4.5 with the carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio at 121:1. A maximum methane composition of 81% was obtained at 1.92 gCOD/L in the BMP test with specific methane production (SMP) at 0.952 L. CH4/L.COD fed. The biogas production was well-fitted with the modified Gompertz model with R2 at 0.9983 and the maximum biogas potential production rate at Rm 0.1573 L/day, whereas in the CSTR operation, a maximum methane composition of 85% was produced at OLR 6 gCOD/L. day with the SMP of 1.13 L. CH4/L.COD fed. The CSTR system was in high stability as the pH was maintained in a range of 6.6–6.7, with an alkalinity ratio of 0.28. This study indicates the CMFW is a sustainable feedstock for biogas production in Malaysia. Toward a circular economy approach, the authorities shall introduce commercial scale CMFW AD as part of managing municipal solid waste issues in Malaysia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afifi Zainal
- Department of Generation and Environment, Renewable Energy and Green Technology Unit, TNB Research Sdn. Bhd., Kajang, Malaysia
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Razif Harun
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
- *Correspondence: Razif Harun,
| | - Syazwani Idrus
- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
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6
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Mozhiarasi V. Overview of pretreatment technologies on vegetable, fruit and flower market wastes disintegration and bioenergy potential: Indian scenario. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 288:132604. [PMID: 34678338 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Disposal of segregated organic fractions of centralized wholesale market wastes (i.e. vegetable, fruit and flower markets waste) in dumpsites/landfills are not only a serious issue but also underutilizes the huge potency of these organic wastes. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a promising technology for converting organic wastes into methane, as a carbon-neutral alternative to conventional fuels. The major challenges related to the AD process are poor biodegradation of wastes and buffering capacity within the anaerobic digester that lowers the biogas yield. To accelerate biodegradation and to enhance the process efficacy of anaerobic digestion, several pretreatment technologies (mechanical, thermal, biological, chemical and combined pre-treatments) for organic wastes prior to the AD process were developed. This review article presents a comprehensive analysis of research updates in pretreatment techniques for vegetable, fruit and flower markets wastes for enhancing biogas yields during the AD process. The technological aspects of the pretreatment process are described and their efficiency comparison with the resultant process yields and environmental benefits are also discussed. The challenges and technical issues associated with each pretreatment and future research directions for overcoming the field implementation issues are also proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Velusamy Mozhiarasi
- CLRI Regional Centre Jalandhar, CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, Jalandhar, 144021, Punjab, India.
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7
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Gudiukaite R, Nadda AK, Gricajeva A, Shanmugam S, Nguyen DD, Lam SS. Bioprocesses for the recovery of bioenergy and value-added products from wastewater: A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 300:113831. [PMID: 34649321 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater and activated sludge present a major challenge worldwide. Wastewater generated from large and small-scale industries, laundries, human residential areas and other sources is emerging as a main problem in sanitation and maintenance of smart/green cities. During the last decade, different technologies and processes have been developed to recycle and purify the wastewater. Currently, identification and fundamental consideration of development of more advanced microbial-based technologies that enable wastewater treatment and simultaneous resource recovery to produce bioenergy, biofuels and other value-added compounds (organic acids, fatty acids, bioplastics, bio-pesticides, bio-surfactants and bio-flocculants etc.) became an emerging topic. In the last several decades, significant development of bioprocesses and techniques for the extraction and recovery of mentioned valuable molecules and compounds from wastewater, waste biomass or sludge has been made. This review presents different microbial-based process routes related to resource recovery and wastewater application for the production of value-added products and bioenergy. Current process limitations and insights for future research to promote more efficient and sustainable routes for this under-utilized and continually growing waste stream are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Gudiukaite
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekis Avenue 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Ashok Kumar Nadda
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan, 173 234, India.
| | - Alisa Gricajeva
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekis Avenue 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Sabarathinam Shanmugam
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - D Duc Nguyen
- Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, Gwanggyosan-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 442-760, South Korea
| | - Su Shiung Lam
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
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8
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Steinberg LM, Martino AJ, House CH. Convergent Microbial Community Formation in Replicate Anaerobic Reactors Inoculated from Different Sources and Treating Ersatz Crew Waste. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11121374. [PMID: 34947905 PMCID: PMC8706314 DOI: 10.3390/life11121374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Future manned space travel will require efficient recycling of nutrients from organic waste back into food production. Microbial systems are a low-energy, efficient means of nutrient recycling, but their use in a life support system requires predictability and reproducibility in community formation and reactor performance. To assess the reproducibility of microbial community formation in fixed-film reactors, we inoculated replicate anaerobic reactors from two methanogenic inocula: a lab-scale fixed-film, plug-flow anaerobic reactor and an acidic transitional fen. Reactors were operated under identical conditions, and we assessed reactor performance and used 16s rDNA amplicon sequencing to determine microbial community formation. Reactor microbial communities were dominated by similar groups, but differences in community membership persisted in reactors inoculated from different sources. Reactor performance overlapped, suggesting a convergence of both reactor communities and organic matter mineralization. The results of this study suggest an optimized microbial community could be preserved and used to start new, or restart failed, anaerobic reactors in a life support system with predictable reactor performance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda J. Martino
- Biology Department, School of STEAM, Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 15940, USA;
| | - Christopher H. House
- Department of Geosciences, Earth and Environmental Systems Institute, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA 16802, USA
- Correspondence: (L.M.S.); (C.H.H.)
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9
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Rhee C, Park SG, Kim DW, Yu SI, Shin J, Hwang S, Shin SG. Tracking microbial community shifts during recovery process in overloaded anaerobic digesters under biological and non-biological supplementation strategies. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 340:125614. [PMID: 34315123 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion encounters operational instability due to fluctuations in organic loading. Propionic acid (HPr) is frequently accumulated due to its unfavorable reaction thermodynamics. Here, 'specific' bioaugmentation using HPr enrichment cultures (three different injection regimes of quantity and frequency) was compared with 'non-specific' bioaugmentation using anaerobic sludge, and with non-biological supplementation of magnetite or coenzyme M. The specific bioaugmentation treatments showed superior recovery responses during continuous feeding after a peak overload. A 'one-shot' bioaugmentation with enrichment showed the best remediation, with ~25% recovery time and >10% CH4 conversion efficiency compared to the control. Consecutive bioaugmentation showed evidence of increased stability of the introduced community. Families Synergistaceae, Syntrophobacteraceae, and Kosmotogaceae were likely responsible for HPr-oxidation, in potential syntrophy with Methanoculleus and Methanobacterium. The different supplementation strategies can be considered to reduce the effect of start-up or overload in anaerobic digesters based on the availability of supplementation resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaeyoung Rhee
- Department of Energy Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju, Gyeongnam 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Gwan Park
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, 727 Taejong-ro, Yeongdo-gu, Busan 49112, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Wook Kim
- Department of Energy Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju, Gyeongnam 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Il Yu
- Department of Energy Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju, Gyeongnam 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Juhee Shin
- Department of Energy Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju, Gyeongnam 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Seokhwan Hwang
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Gu Shin
- Department of Energy Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju, Gyeongnam 52828, Republic of Korea.
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Bioenergy Potential of Albumin, Acetic Acid, Sucrose, and Blood in Microbial Fuel Cells Treating Synthetic Wastewater. Processes (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/pr9081289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a recent biotechnology that can simultaneously produce electricity and treat wastewater. As the nature of industrial wastewater is very complex, and it may contain a variety of substrates—such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, etc.—previous investigations dealt with treatment of individual pollutants in MFCs; the potential of acetic acid, sucrose, albumin, blood, and their mixture has rarely been reported. Hence, the current investigation explored the contribution of each substrate, both separately and in mixture. The voltage generation potential, current, and power density of five different substrates—namely, acetic acid, sucrose, albumin, blood, and a mixture of all of the substrates—was tested in a dual-chambered, anaerobic MFC operated at 35 °C. The reaction time of the anaerobic batch mode MFC was 24 h, and each substrate was treated for 7 runs under the same conditions. The dual-chambered MFC consisted of anode and cathode chambers; the anode chamber contained the biocatalyst (sludge), while the cathode chamber contained the oxidizing material (KMnO4). The maximum voltage of 769 mV was generated by acetic acid, while its corresponding values of current and power density were 7.69 mA and 347.85 mW, respectively. Similarly, being a simple and readily oxidizable substrate, acetic acid exhibited the highest COD removal efficiency (85%) and highest Coulombic efficiency (72%) per run. The anode accepted the highest number of electrons (0.078 mmol/L) when acetic acid was used as a substrate. The voltage, current, and power density generated were found to be directly proportional to COD concentration. The least voltage (61 mV), current (0.61 mA), and power density (2.18 mW) were observed when blood was treated in the MFC. Further research should be focused on testing the interaction of two or more substrates simultaneously in the MFC.
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Leininger A, Ren ZJ. Circular utilization of food waste to biochar enhances thermophilic co-digestion performance. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 332:125130. [PMID: 33857865 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Codigestion is an emerging approach to improve wastewater sludge biogas production and valorize food waste (FW). This study explores FW-derived biochar as a codigestion amendment for the first time and reports a matrix experiment using four diverse biochar amendments (mixed food waste, pinewood, bonechar, unamended control) across four FW types (vegetable, rice, chicken, mixed). It demonstrated that biochar derived from mixed FW can greatly improve the performance of biogas production and yield relative to unamended control and other biochars. The mixed food waste (MFW) biochar amendment led to 34.5%, 35.6%, and 47.5% increase in methane production from mixed FW compared to biochars made of wood, bone and non-amendment control, and the maximum methane production rate of MFW biochar reactors could be up to 6.7-9.9 times of the control. These results suggest that a more circular utilization of FW by integrating biochar production with codigestion can bring great benefits to FW management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Leininger
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Zhiyong Jason Ren
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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12
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Anaerobic Digestion for Producing Renewable Energy-The Evolution of This Technology in a New Uncertain Scenario. ENTROPY 2021; 23:e23020145. [PMID: 33503933 PMCID: PMC7912667 DOI: 10.3390/e23020145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion is a well-known technology with wide application in the treatment of high-strength organic wastes. The economic feasibility of this type of installation is usually attained thanks to the availability of fiscal incentives. In this review, an analysis of the different factors associated with this biological treatment and a description of alternatives available in literature for increasing performance of the process were provided. The possible integration of this process into a biorefinery as a way for producing energy and chemical products from the conversion of wastes and biomass also analyzed. The future outlook of anaerobic digestion will be closely linked to circular economy principles. Therefore, this technology should be properly integrated into any production system where energy can be recovered from organics. Digestion can play a major role in any transformation process where by-products need further stabilization or it can be the central core of any waste treatment process, modifying the current scheme by a concatenation of several activities with the aim of increasing the efficiency of the conversion. Thus, current plants dedicated to the treatment of wastewaters, animal manures, or food wastes can become specialized centers for producing bio-energy and green chemicals. However, high installation costs, feedstock dispersion and market distortions were recognized as the main parameters negatively affecting these alternatives.
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13
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Prem EM, Mutschlechner M, Stres B, Illmer P, Wagner AO. Lignin intermediates lead to phenyl acid formation and microbial community shifts in meso- and thermophilic batch reactors. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:27. [PMID: 33472684 PMCID: PMC7816434 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-020-01855-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lignin intermediates resulting from lignocellulose degradation have been suspected to hinder anaerobic mineralisation of organic materials to biogas. Phenyl acids like phenylacetate (PAA) are early detectable intermediates during anaerobic digestion (AD) of aromatic compounds. Studying the phenyl acid formation dynamics and concomitant microbial community shifts can help to understand the microbial interdependencies during AD of aromatic compounds and may be beneficial to counteract disturbances. RESULTS The length of the aliphatic side chain and chemical structure of the benzene side group(s) had an influence on the methanogenic system. PAA, phenylpropionate (PPA), and phenylbutyrate (PBA) accumulations showed that the respective lignin intermediate was degraded but that there were metabolic restrictions as the phenyl acids were not effectively processed. Metagenomic analyses confirmed that mesophilic genera like Fastidiosipila or Syntrophomonas and thermophilic genera like Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Geobacillus, and Tissierella are associated with phenyl acid formation. Acetoclastic methanogenesis was prevalent in mesophilic samples at low and medium overload conditions, whereas Methanoculleus spp. dominated at high overload conditions when methane production was restricted. In medium carbon load reactors under thermophilic conditions, syntrophic acetate oxidation (SAO)-induced hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis was the most important process despite the fact that acetoclastic methanogenesis would thermodynamically be more favourable. As acetoclastic methanogens were restricted at medium and high overload conditions, syntrophic acetate oxidising bacteria and their hydrogenotrophic partners could step in for acetate consumption. CONCLUSIONS PAA, PPA, and PBA were early indicators for upcoming process failures. Acetoclastic methanogens were one of the first microorganisms to be impaired by aromatic compounds, and shifts to syntrophic acetate oxidation coupled to hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis occurred in thermophilic reactors. Previously assumed associations of specific meso- and thermophilic genera with anaerobic phenyl acid formation could be confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Maria Prem
- Department of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Mira Mutschlechner
- Department of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Blaz Stres
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Institute of Sanitary Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Jamova 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Štefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Paul Illmer
- Department of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Otto Wagner
- Department of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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Anaerobic Digestion in the 21st Century. Bioengineering (Basel) 2020; 7:bioengineering7040157. [PMID: 33297305 PMCID: PMC7762284 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering7040157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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