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Co-digestion of sewage sludge and microalgae – Biogas production investigations

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  • Thorin, Eva
  • Olsson, Jesper
  • Schwede, Sebastian
  • Nehrenheim, Emma

Abstract

In municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), algae could be utilised for cleaning the water and, at the same time, produce a biomass that can be used for energy. Through anaerobic digestion, microalgae can contribute to biogas production when co-digested with sewage sludge. In this paper, previous published results on the co-digestion of sewage sludge and microalgae are summarised and reviewed, and any remaining knowledge gaps are identified. The batch tests currently documented in literature mostly concern digestion under mesophilic conditions, and studies investigating thermophilic conditions are less common. The average biochemical methane potential (BMP) for 29 different mixtures co-digested under mesophilic conditions is 317±101Ncm3 CH4 gVS−1 while the result for 12 different mixtures investigated under thermophilic conditions is a BMP of 318±60Ncm3 CH4gVS−1. An evaluation of the heat required for increasing the temperature from mesophilic to thermophilic conditions shows that increased methane production under thermophilic conditions can be enough to create a positive energy balance. For a full-scale WWTP, using thermophilic digestion on sludge, or a combination of sludge and microalgae could therefore be of interest. This is dependent on the demands on sanitation of the sludge and the possibilities for heat recovery.

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  • Thorin, Eva & Olsson, Jesper & Schwede, Sebastian & Nehrenheim, Emma, 2018. "Co-digestion of sewage sludge and microalgae – Biogas production investigations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 64-72.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:227:y:2018:i:c:p:64-72
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.08.085
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    3. Solé-Bundó, Maria & Passos, Fabiana & Romero-Güiza, Maycoll S. & Ferrer, Ivet & Astals, Sergi, 2019. "Co-digestion strategies to enhance microalgae anaerobic digestion: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 471-482.
    4. Francesco Facchini & Giovanni Mummolo & Micaela Vitti, 2021. "Scenario Analysis for Selecting Sewage Sludge-to-Energy/Matter Recovery Processes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-21, January.
    5. Giovanni Gadaleta & Sabino De Gisi & Michele Notarnicola, 2021. "Feasibility Analysis on the Adoption of Decentralized Anaerobic Co-Digestion for the Treatment of Municipal Organic Waste with Energy Recovery in Urban Districts of Metropolitan Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-17, February.
    6. Xia, Ao & Sun, Chihe & Fu, Qian & Liao, Qiang & Huang, Yun & Zhu, Xun & Li, Qing, 2020. "Biofuel production from wet microalgae biomass: Comparison of physicochemical properties and extraction performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    7. Villamil, J.A. & Mohedano, A.F. & San Martín, J. & Rodriguez, J.J. & de la Rubia, M.A., 2020. "Anaerobic co-digestion of the process water from waste activated sludge hydrothermally treated with primary sewage sludge. A new approach for sewage sludge management," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 435-443.

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