IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i10p2644-d1660163.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Heavy Metal Control and Dry Matter Assessment in Digested Sewage Sludge for Biogas Production

Author

Listed:
  • Krzysztof Michalski

    (AQUA S.A., ul. 1 Maja 23, 43-300 Bielsko-Biała, Poland)

  • Magdalena Kóska-Wolny

    (AQUA S.A., ul. 1 Maja 23, 43-300 Bielsko-Biała, Poland
    College of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Economics and Humanities, ul. gen. Wł. Sikorskiego 4-4c, 43-300 Bielsko-Biała, Poland)

  • Krzysztof Chmielowski

    (Department of Natural Gas Engineering, Faculty of Drilling, Oil and Gas, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland)

  • Michał Gąsiorek

    (Department of Soil Science and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Kraków, Poland)

  • Klaudiusz Grübel

    (Department of Environmental Protection and Engineering, University of Bielsko-Biala, ul. Willowa 2, 43-309 Bielsko-Biała, Poland)

  • Konrad Kalarus

    (Institute of Technology and Life Sciences, National Research Institute, Falenty, Al. Hrabska 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland)

  • Wiktor Halecki

    (Institute of Technology and Life Sciences, National Research Institute, Falenty, Al. Hrabska 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland)

Abstract

The expansion of sewage networks and treatment facilities results in considerable amounts of municipal sludge, which is essential for biogas production as part of energy diversification efforts. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated a strong correlation between biogas production and its utilization in power generation units. Modernization efforts led to an increase in biogas utilization in power units but a decrease in boiler utilization, independent of the overall biogas production levels. The general linear model (GLM) further confirmed that biogas production was positively influenced by the amount of waste digested, while utilization in power units increased post modernization. A repeated measures ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) indicated significant increases in both dry matter and mineral content in digested sludge compared to raw sludge. SIMPER (Similarity Percentage) analysis revealed that the addition of glycerin water significantly reduced the nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and calcium content, while modernization increased these elements and slightly decreased the magnesium concentration. Multivariate dispersion analysis showed that samples treated with glycerin water exhibited less variability in metal content. Regression models explored the factors influencing mineral elements and dry mass in fermented sludge. The zinc content was positively associated with mineral content, while copper showed a negative correlation. The addition of glycerin water increased the mineral content, whereas modernization had the opposite effect. The nitrogen content was negatively correlated with dry mass. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing sewage sludge treatment and biogas production processes by underlining the approaches for enhancing sludge properties to support efficient biogas production.

Suggested Citation

  • Krzysztof Michalski & Magdalena Kóska-Wolny & Krzysztof Chmielowski & Michał Gąsiorek & Klaudiusz Grübel & Konrad Kalarus & Wiktor Halecki, 2025. "Heavy Metal Control and Dry Matter Assessment in Digested Sewage Sludge for Biogas Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:10:p:2644-:d:1660163
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2644/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2644/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Krzysztof Michalski & Magdalena Kośka-Wolny & Krzysztof Chmielowski & Dawid Bedla & Agnieszka Petryk & Paweł Guzdek & Katarzyna Anna Dąbek & Michał Gąsiorek & Klaudiusz Grübel & Wiktor Halecki, 2024. "Examining the Potential of Biogas: A Pathway from Post-Fermented Waste into Energy in a Wastewater Treatment Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Sina Shaddel & Hamidreza Bakhtiary-Davijany & Christian Kabbe & Farbod Dadgar & Stein W. Østerhus, 2019. "Sustainable Sewage Sludge Management: From Current Practices to Emerging Nutrient Recovery Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-12, June.
    3. Marti J. Anderson, 2006. "Distance-Based Tests for Homogeneity of Multivariate Dispersions," Biometrics, The International Biometric Society, vol. 62(1), pages 245-253, March.
    4. Zhou, Shengdong & Bai, Zhang & Li, Qi & Yuan, Yu & Wang, Shuoshuo, 2024. "Potential of applying the thermochemical recuperation in combined cooling, heating and power generation: Optimized recuperation regulation with syngas storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PB).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Zhai, Jihua & Burke, Ian T. & Stewart, Douglas I., 2021. "Beneficial management of biomass combustion ashes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    2. Radomír Němec & Marie Vymazalová & Hana Skokanová, 2022. "The Impact of Fine-Scale Present and Historical Land Cover on Plant Diversity in Central European National Parks with Heterogeneous Landscapes," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, May.
    3. repec:plo:pone00:0205981 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Magdalena Szymańska & Tomasz Sosulski & Ewa Szara & Adam Wąs & Piotr Sulewski & Gijs W.P. van Pruissen & René L. Cornelissen, 2019. "Ammonium Sulphate from a Bio-Refinery System as a Fertilizer—Agronomic and Economic Effectiveness on the Farm Scale," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-15, December.
    5. María Fernanda Garcés-Moncayo & Fabricio Guevara-Viejó & Juan Diego Valenzuela-Cobos & Purificación Galindo-Villardón & Purificación Vicente-Galindo, 2025. "Modeling of the Physicochemical and Nutritional Composition of Musa paradisiaca (Williams Variety) at Different Ripening Stages in Ecuador," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.
    6. Natalia Milojevic & Agnieszka Cydzik-Kwiatkowska, 2021. "Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge as a Threat of Microplastic (MP) Spread in the Environment and the Role of Governance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Halder, Kaushik & Panda, Deepak Kumar & Das, Saptarshi & Das, Sourav & Gupta, Amitava, 2022. "Specified QoS based networked observer and PI controller design with disturbance and noise rejection under random packet dropout," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 604(C).
    8. Xu, Lianlian & Cui, Haisheng & Zhu, Xiaoli & Bai, Zhang & Tuo, Yongxiao & Li, Fulai & Han, Yunyi & Huang, Xiankun, 2025. "Improved hydrogen production performance of methanol steam reformer by integrated with tree-like network and Sierpinski carpet," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 384(C).
    9. Roberta Mavugara & Mark Makomborero Matsa, 2024. "Resource Recovery from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants: the Zimbabwean Perspective," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 363-386, March.
    10. Alejandra Goldenberg Vilar & Timme Donders & Aleksandra Cvetkoska & Friederike Wagner-Cremer, 2018. "Seasonality modulates the predictive skills of diatom based salinity transfer functions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, November.
    11. Monika Jakubus, 2023. "Quantitative Distribution and Contamination Risk Assessment of Cu and Zn in Municipal Sewage Sludge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-18, August.
    12. Dylan Molenaar, 2015. "Heteroscedastic Latent Trait Models for Dichotomous Data," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 80(3), pages 625-644, September.
    13. Mathilde Chomel & Jocelyn M. Lavallee & Nil Alvarez-Segura & Elizabeth M. Baggs & Tancredi Caruso & Francisco Castro & Mark C. Emmerson & Matthew Magilton & Jennifer M. Rhymes & Franciska T. Vries & D, 2022. "Intensive grassland management disrupts below-ground multi-trophic resource transfer in response to drought," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    14. Niklas Widderich & Natalie Mayer & Anna Joelle Ruff & Bernd Reckels & Florian Lohkamp & Christian Visscher & Ulrich Schwaneberg & Martin Kaltschmitt & Andreas Liese & Paul Bubenheim, 2022. "Conditioning of Feed Material Prior to Feeding: Approaches for a Sustainable Phosphorus Utilization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    15. Zhao, Xiangming & Liu, Yuan & He, Maogang & Guo, Jianxiang, 2025. "Comprehensive optimization of combined cooling, heating, and power hybrid renewable multienergy system based on enhanced implementation feasibility," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    16. Marzena Smol & Michał Preisner & Augusto Bianchini & Jessica Rossi & Ludwig Hermann & Tanja Schaaf & Jolita Kruopienė & Kastytis Pamakštys & Maris Klavins & Ruta Ozola-Davidane & Daina Kalnina & Elina, 2020. "Strategies for Sustainable and Circular Management of Phosphorus in the Baltic Sea Region: The Holistic Approach of the InPhos Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-21, March.
    17. Marcin Dębowski & Marcin Zieliński, 2020. "Technological Effectiveness of Sugar-Industry Effluent Methane Fermentation in a Fluidized Active Filling Reactor (FAF-R)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-17, December.
    18. Wang, Shuoshuo & Tuo, Yongxiao & Zhu, Xiaoli & Li, Fulai & Bai, Zhang & Gu, Yucheng, 2024. "Systematic assessment for an integrated hydrogen approach towards the cross-regional application considering solar thermochemical and methanol carrier11The short version of the paper was presented at ," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 370(C).
    19. Nicola Di Costanzo & Alessandra Cesaro & Francesco Di Capua & Giovanni Esposito, 2021. "Exploiting the Nutrient Potential of Anaerobically Digested Sewage Sludge: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-25, December.
    20. Vilizzi, L. & Price, A. & Beesley, L. & Gawne, B. & King, A.J. & Koehn, J.D. & Meredith, S.N. & Nielsen, D.L. & Sharpe, C.P., 2012. "The belief index: An empirical measure for evaluating outcomes in Bayesian belief network modelling," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 123-129.
    21. 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.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:18:y:2025:i:10:p:2644-:d:1660163. 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.