IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i10p4051-d1145665.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Biochar and Its Potential Application for the Improvement of the Anaerobic Digestion Process: A Critical Review

Author

Listed:
  • Musa Manga

    (Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166 Rosenau Hall, 135 Dauer Drive, Campus Box # 7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Christian Aragón-Briceño

    (Department of Industry and Energy, CIRCE-Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Panagiotis Boutikos

    (Center for Research and Technology—Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Swaib Semiyaga

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda)

  • Omotunde Olabinjo

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife A234, Nigeria)

  • Chimdi C. Muoghalu

    (Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166 Rosenau Hall, 135 Dauer Drive, Campus Box # 7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

Abstract

Poor management of organic waste is a key environmental and public health issue as it contributes to environmental contamination and the spread of diseases. Anaerobic digestion (AD) presents an efficient method for organic waste management while generating energy and nutrient-rich digestate. However, the AD process is limited by key factors, which include process inefficiencies from substrate-induced instability, poor quality digestate, and poor management of effluent and emissions. Lately, there has been more interest in the use of biochar for improving anaerobic digestion. Biochar can improve methane production by speeding up the methanogenesis stage, protecting microorganisms from toxic shocks, and reducing inhibition from ammonia and volatile fatty acids. It can be applied for in situ cleanup of biogas to remove carbon dioxide. Applying biochar in AD is undergoing intensive research and development; however, there are still unresolved factors and challenges, such as the influence of feedstock source and pyrolysis on the performance of biochar when it is added to the AD process. In light of these considerations, this review sheds more light on various potential uses of biochar to complement or improve the AD process. This review also considers the mechanisms through which biochar enhances methane production rate, biochar’s influence on the resulting digestate, and areas for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Musa Manga & Christian Aragón-Briceño & Panagiotis Boutikos & Swaib Semiyaga & Omotunde Olabinjo & Chimdi C. Muoghalu, 2023. "Biochar and Its Potential Application for the Improvement of the Anaerobic Digestion Process: A Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:10:p:4051-:d:1145665
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/10/4051/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/10/4051/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dianxi Zhang & Muhammad Safdar Sial & Naveed Ahmad & António José Filipe & Phung Anh Thu & Malik Zia-Ud-Din & António Bento Caleiro, 2020. "Water Scarcity and Sustainability in an Emerging Economy: A Management Perspective for Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Musa Manga & Chimdi Muoghalu & Miller A. Camargo-Valero & Barbara E. Evans, 2023. "Effect of Turning Frequency on the Survival of Fecal Indicator Microorganisms during Aerobic Composting of Fecal Sludge with Sawdust," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Musa Manga & Barbara E. Evans & Tula M. Ngasala & Miller A. Camargo-Valero, 2022. "Recycling of Faecal Sludge: Nitrogen, Carbon and Organic Matter Transformation during Co-Composting of Faecal Sludge with Different Bulking Agents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-22, August.
    4. Wu, Li-Jie & Qin, Yu & Hojo, Toshimasa & Li, Yu-You, 2015. "Upgrading of anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge by temperature-phased process with recycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 381-389.
    5. Panigrahi, Sagarika & Dubey, Brajesh K., 2019. "A critical review on operating parameters and strategies to improve the biogas yield from anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 779-797.
    6. Li, Yue & Chen, Yinguang & Wu, Jiang, 2019. "Enhancement of methane production in anaerobic digestion process: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 120-137.
    7. Mustafa, Ahmed M. & Poulsen, Tjalfe G. & Sheng, Kuichuan, 2016. "Fungal pretreatment of rice straw with Pleurotus ostreatus and Trichoderma reesei to enhance methane production under solid-state anaerobic digestion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 661-671.
    8. Masebinu, S.O. & Akinlabi, E.T. & Muzenda, E. & Aboyade, A.O., 2019. "A review of biochar properties and their roles in mitigating challenges with anaerobic digestion," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 291-307.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Muhammad Yousaf Arshad & Salaha Saeed & Ahsan Raza & Anum Suhail Ahmad & Agnieszka Urbanowska & Mateusz Jackowski & Lukasz Niedzwiecki, 2023. "Integrating Life Cycle Assessment and Machine Learning to Enhance Black Soldier Fly Larvae-Based Composting of Kitchen Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Muhammad Yousaf Arshad & Muhammad Azam Saeed & Muhammad Wasim Tahir & Ahsan Raza & Anam Suhail Ahmad & Fasiha Tahir & Bartłomiej Borkowski & Tadeusz Mączka & Lukasz Niedzwiecki, 2023. "Role of Experimental, Modeling, and Simulation Studies of Plasma in Sustainable Green Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-35, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wang, Xuezhi & Lei, Zhongfang & Shimizu, Kazuya & Zhang, Zhenya & Lee, Duu-Jong, 2021. "Recent advancements in nanobubble water technology and its application in energy recovery from organic solid wastes towards a greater environmental friendliness of anaerobic digestion system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    2. Malyan, Sandeep K. & Kumar, Smita S. & Fagodiya, Ram Kishor & Ghosh, Pooja & Kumar, Amit & Singh, Rajesh & Singh, Lakhveer, 2021. "Biochar for environmental sustainability in the energy-water-agroecosystem nexus," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    3. Wu, Benteng & Lin, Richen & O'Shea, Richard & Deng, Chen & Rajendran, Karthik & Murphy, Jerry D., 2021. "Production of advanced fuels through integration of biological, thermo-chemical and power to gas technologies in a circular cascading bio-based system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    4. Ma, Shuaishuai & Li, Yuling & Li, Jingxue & Yu, Xiaona & Cui, Zongjun & Yuan, Xufeng & Zhu, Wanbin & Wang, Hongliang, 2022. "Features of single and combined technologies for lignocellulose pretreatment to enhance biomethane production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    5. Mosleh Uddin, Md & Wen, Zhiyou & Mba Wright, Mark, 2022. "Techno-economic and environmental impact assessment of using corn stover biochar for manure derived renewable natural gas production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    6. Przemysław Seruga & Małgorzata Krzywonos & Anna Seruga & Łukasz Niedźwiecki & Halina Pawlak-Kruczek & Agnieszka Urbanowska, 2020. "Anaerobic Digestion Performance: Separate Collected vs. Mechanical Segregated Organic Fractions of Municipal Solid Waste as Feedstock," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-14, July.
    7. Sharvini, Siva Raman & Noor, Zainura Zainon & Chong, Chun Shiong & Stringer, Lindsay C & Glew, David, 2020. "Energy generation from palm oil mill effluent: A life cycle assessment of two biogas technologies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    8. Zhang, Huaiwen & Yao, Yiqing & Deng, Jun & Zhang, Jian-Li & Qiu, Yaojing & Li, Guofu & Liu, Jian, 2022. "Hydrogen production via anaerobic digestion of coal modified by white-rot fungi and its application benefits analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    9. Tonanzi, B. & Gallipoli, A. & Gianico, A. & Montecchio, D. & Pagliaccia, P. & Rossetti, S. & Braguglia, C.M., 2021. "Elucidating the key factors in semicontinuous anaerobic digestion of urban biowaste: The crucial role of sludge addition in process stability, microbial community enrichment and methane production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 272-284.
    10. Ahmadi, Ehsan & Yousefzadeh, Samira & Mokammel, Adel & Miri, Mohammad & Ansari, Mohsen & Arfaeinia, Hossein & Badi, Mojtaba Yegane & Ghaffari, Hamid Reza & Rezaei, Soheila & Mahvi, Amir Hossein, 2020. "Kinetic study and performance evaluation of an integrated two-phase fixed-film baffled bioreactor for bioenergy recovery from wastewater and bio-wasted sludge," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    11. Rajesh Banu Jeyakumar & Godvin Sharmila Vincent, 2022. "Recent Advances and Perspectives of Nanotechnology in Anaerobic Digestion: A New Paradigm towards Sludge Biodegradability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.
    12. Maria Salud Camilleri-Rumbau & Kelly Briceño & Lene Fjerbæk Søtoft & Knud Villy Christensen & Maria Cinta Roda-Serrat & Massimiliano Errico & Birgir Norddahl, 2021. "Treatment of Manure and Digestate Liquid Fractions Using Membranes: Opportunities and Challenges," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-30, March.
    13. Xuemeng Zhang & Chao Liu & Yuexi Chen & Guanghong Zheng & Yinguang Chen, 2022. "Source separation, transportation, pretreatment, and valorization of municipal solid waste: a critical review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(10), pages 11471-11513, October.
    14. Sun, Hui & Wang, Enzhen & Li, Xiang & Cui, Xian & Guo, Jianbin & Dong, Renjie, 2021. "Potential biomethane production from crop residues in China: Contributions to carbon neutrality," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    15. Roberto Paglini & Marta Gandiglio & Andrea Lanzini, 2022. "Technologies for Deep Biogas Purification and Use in Zero-Emission Fuel Cells Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-30, May.
    16. Aragon-Briceño, Christian & Pożarlik, Artur & Bramer, Eddy & Brem, Gerrit & Wang, Shule & Wen, Yuming & Yang, Weihong & Pawlak-Kruczek, Halina & Niedźwiecki, Łukasz & Urbanowska, Agnieszka & Mościcki,, 2022. "Integration of hydrothermal carbonization treatment for water and energy recovery from organic fraction of municipal solid waste digestate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 577-591.
    17. Guimarães de Oliveira, Maurício & Marques Mourão, José Marcos & Marques de Oliveira, Ana Katherinne & Bezerra dos Santos, André & Lopes Pereira, Erlon, 2021. "Microaerophilic treatment enhanced organic matter removal and methane production rates during swine wastewater treatment: A long-term engineering evaluation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 691-699.
    18. Arthur Chevalier & Philippe Evon & Florian Monlau & Virginie Vandenbossche & Cecilia Sambusiti, 2023. "Twin-Screw Extrusion Mechanical Pretreatment for Enhancing Biomethane Production from Agro-Industrial, Agricultural and Catch Crop Biomasses," Waste, MDPI, vol. 1(2), pages 1-18, May.
    19. Lina Luo & Youpei Qu & Weijia Gong & Liyuan Qin & Wenzhe Li & Yong Sun, 2021. "Effect of Particle Size on the Aerobic and Anaerobic Digestion Characteristics of Whole Rice Straw," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, July.
    20. Theresa Menzel & Peter Neubauer & Stefan Junne, 2020. "Role of Microbial Hydrolysis in Anaerobic Digestion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-29, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:10:p:4051-:d:1145665. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.