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Anaerobic Digestion of Cigarette Butts: Microbial Community Analysis and Energy Production Estimation

Author

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  • Okkyoung Choi

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Korea
    The first two authors listed share first authorship.)

  • Sae Eun Hwang

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Korea
    The first two authors listed share first authorship.)

  • Hyojung Park

    (Gwangju Bioenergy R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), 25 Samso-ro, Gwangju 61003, Korea)

  • Byoung-In Sang

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Korea)

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion using cigarette butts, one of most littered items, was studied not only as a waste treatment, but also as an energy production method. Methane production from cigarette butts was measured through the biochemical methane potential (BMP) test and it was evaluated whether it is possible to produce electrical energy. Intact cigarettes or individual components (filter, paper, and leaf) were supplied as the sole carbon source (substrate) for the BMP test. The tendency of methane production indicated biodegradation in the order of paper, filter, and leaves; however, the filter of cigarettes was the substrate produced the highest amount of methane per total solid. The microbial community was also analyzed in each anaerobic digestion reactor, and substrate-specific microorganisms were identified, such as Proteiniphilum strain (filter) and Methanobacterium formicicum (paper). In intact cigarettes, the related microbial community became dominant over time in the order of paper, filter, and leaf. The conversion of cigarette butts to methane, a renewable energy source, can be proposed as a sustainable route for energy demand, for example, in a smoking room.

Suggested Citation

  • Okkyoung Choi & Sae Eun Hwang & Hyojung Park & Byoung-In Sang, 2021. "Anaerobic Digestion of Cigarette Butts: Microbial Community Analysis and Energy Production Estimation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:24:p:8290-:d:698660
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Renata Toczyłowska-Mamińska & Karolina Szymona & Patryk Król & Karol Gliniewicz & Katarzyna Pielech-Przybylska & Monika Kloch & Bruce E. Logan, 2018. "Evolving Microbial Communities in Cellulose-Fed Microbial Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Collet, Pierre & Flottes, Eglantine & Favre, Alain & Raynal, Ludovic & Pierre, Hélène & Capela, Sandra & Peregrina, Carlos, 2017. "Techno-economic and Life Cycle Assessment of methane production via biogas upgrading and power to gas technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 282-295.
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    Cited by:

    1. Agnieszka A. Pilarska & Krzysztof Pilarski, 2023. "Bioenergy Generation from Different Types of Waste by Anaerobic Digestion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-4, October.

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