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Anaerobic Digestion of Wastewater Sludge and Alkaline-Pretreated Wheat Straw at Semi-Continuous Pilot Scale: Performances and Energy Assessment

Author

Listed:
  • Christine Peyrelasse

    (APESA, Plateau Technique, Cap Ecologia, 64230 Lescar, France)

  • Abdellatif Barakat

    (IATE, Montpellier University, INRAE, Montpellier SupAgro, 34060 Montpellier, France)

  • Camille Lagnet

    (APESA, Plateau Technique, Cap Ecologia, 64230 Lescar, France)

  • Prasad Kaparaju

    (School of Engineering and Built Environment, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia)

  • Florian Monlau

    (IATE, Montpellier University, INRAE, Montpellier SupAgro, 34060 Montpellier, France)

Abstract

During the last decade, the application of pretreatment has been investigated to enhance methane production from lignocellulosic biomass such as wheat straw (WS). Nonetheless, most of these studies were conducted in laboratory batch tests, potentially hiding instability problems or inhibition, which may fail in truly predicting full-scale reactor performance. For this purpose, the effect of an alkaline pretreatment on process performance and methane yields from WS (0.10 g NaOH g −1 WS at 90 °C for 1 h) co-digested with fresh wastewater sludge was evaluated in a pilot-scale reactor (20 L). Results showed that alkaline pretreatment resulted in better delignification (44%) and hemicellulose solubilization (62%) compared to untreated WS. Pilot-scale study showed that the alkaline pretreatment improved the methane production (261 ± 3 Nm 3 CH 4 t −1 VS) compared to untreated WS (201 ± 6 Nm 3 CH 4 t −1 VS). Stable process without any inhibition was observed and a high alkalinity was maintained in the reactor due to the NaOH used for pretreatment. The study thus confirms that alkaline pretreatment is a promising technology for full-scale application and could improve the overall economic benefits for biogas plant at 24 EUR t −1 VS treated, improve the energy recovery per unit organic matter, reduce the digestate volume and its disposal costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine Peyrelasse & Abdellatif Barakat & Camille Lagnet & Prasad Kaparaju & Florian Monlau, 2021. "Anaerobic Digestion of Wastewater Sludge and Alkaline-Pretreated Wheat Straw at Semi-Continuous Pilot Scale: Performances and Energy Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:17:p:5391-:d:625410
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elalami, D. & Carrere, H. & Monlau, F. & Abdelouahdi, K. & Oukarroum, A. & Barakat, A., 2019. "Pretreatment and co-digestion of wastewater sludge for biogas production: Recent research advances and trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Sambusiti, C. & Monlau, F. & Ficara, E. & Carrère, H. & Malpei, F., 2013. "A comparison of different pre-treatments to increase methane production from two agricultural substrates," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 62-70.
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    1. Pan, Shiyou & Guo, Fan & Li, Xiangyi & Feng, Linchuan & Li, Zhenchong & Du, Liqin & Wei, Yutuo, 2024. "Briquetting as a source pretreatment strategy to improve energy recovery from the anaerobic digestion of agricultural straw: Experimental and economic evaluation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).

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