IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i16p7200-d1461260.html

Double-Stage Anaerobic Digestion for Biohydrogen Production: A Strategy for Organic Waste Diversion and Emission Reduction in a South African Municipality

Author

Listed:
  • Andrea Dell’Orto

    (Environmental Engineering Group, Discipline of Civil Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa)

  • Cristina Trois

    (Environmental Engineering Group, Discipline of Civil Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
    Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa)

Abstract

Landfilling of organic waste poses a significant environmental threat, heavily contributing to climate change. The diversion of waste is imperative, but pathways to implementing alternative waste management strategies are needed. Double-stage anaerobic digestion has been identified as a potential technique that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diminish the amount of waste landfilled. Still, further research is needed before its implementation at the municipal level. This paper explored the potential insertion of double-stage anaerobic digestion into the portfolio of alternative treatment methods using the case study of the eThekwini Municipality in Durban, South Africa, by proposing a source-separation waste management scheme and forecasting the organic waste generation for a 24-year timeframe until 2050. The WROSE model has been identified as the ideal tool for the analysis. A new scenario, including double-stage anaerobic digestion, has been introduced in WROSE after developing a country-specific emission factor. The technology has been assessed against similar techniques, namely anaerobic digestion and composting, according to the environmental indicators included in WROSE. Compared with the business-as-usual scenario and three other alternatives, the new scenario proved to be the second-most effective (−282% versus business-as-usual) after anaerobic digestion (−291%) in reducing climate-altering emissions, achieving analogous waste diversion rate (10.09%), landfill airspace (1,653,705 m 3 ), and monetary savings (3.8 billion Rand) compared to composting and anaerobic digestion.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Dell’Orto & Cristina Trois, 2024. "Double-Stage Anaerobic Digestion for Biohydrogen Production: A Strategy for Organic Waste Diversion and Emission Reduction in a South African Municipality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:16:p:7200-:d:1461260
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/16/7200/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/16/7200/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Baldi, F. & Pecorini, I. & Iannelli, R., 2019. "Comparison of single-stage and two-stage anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and activated sludge for hydrogen and methane production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1755-1765.
    2. Lavagnolo, Maria Cristina & Girotto, Francesca & Rafieenia, Razieh & Danieli, Luciano & Alibardi, Luca, 2018. "Two-stage anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste – Effects of process conditions during batch tests," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 14-20.
    3. Gayatri Udaysinh Ingale & Hyun-Min Kwon & Soohwa Jeong & Dongho Park & Whidong Kim & Byeingryeol Bang & Young-Il Lim & Sung Won Kim & Youn-Bae Kang & Jungsoo Mun & Sunwoo Jun & Uendo Lee, 2022. "Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Hydrogen Production Processes: Turquoise Hydrogen vs. Steam Methane Reforming," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-20, November.
    4. Bertasini, Davide & Battista, Federico & Rizzioli, Fabio & Frison, Nicola & Bolzonella, David, 2023. "Decarbonization of the European natural gas grid using hydrogen and methane biologically produced from organic waste: A critical overview," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 386-396.
    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. Charles Rashama & Tonderayi Matambo & Asheal Mutungwazi & Christian Riann & Godwell Nhamo, 2025. "Harnessing Horsepower from Horse Manure at the EARTH Centre in South Africa: Biogas Initiative Improve the Facility’s Operational Sustainability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Iván D. Roa & Jorge R. Henriquez & Emmanuel D. Dutra & Rômulo S. C. Menezes & Monaliza M. M. Andrade & Edvaldo P. Santos Junior & Luiz Célio S. Rocha & Paulo Rotella Junior, 2024. "Economic Feasibility of Biogas Microgeneration from Food Waste: Potential for Sustainable Energy in Northeastern Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-17, November.

    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, Shuaibing & Lin, Haitao & Abed, Azher M. & Mahariq, Ibrahim & Ayed, Hamdi & Mouldi, Abir & Lin, Zhixiang, 2024. "Life cycle analysis of biowaste-to- biogas/biomethane processes: Cost and environmental assessment of four different biowaste scenarios organic fraction of municipal solid waste and secondary sewage sludge)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    2. Sayedin, Farid & Kermanshahi-pour, Azadeh & He, Quan Sophia, 2019. "Evaluating the potential of a novel anaerobic baffled reactor for anaerobic digestion of thin stillage: Effect of organic loading rate, hydraulic retention time and recycle ratio," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 975-983.
    3. Negar Shaya & Simon Glöser-Chahoud, 2024. "A Review of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Studies for Hydrogen Production Technologies through Water Electrolysis: Recent Advances," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-21, August.
    4. Elena Rossi & Isabella Pecorini & Giovanni Ferrara & Renato Iannelli, 2022. "Dry Anaerobic Digestion of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste: Biogas Production Optimization by Reducing Ammonia Inhibition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-17, July.
    5. Paul Pinchao & Alejandra Torres & Marco Yánez & Salvatore Reina & Edgar Cando, 2024. "Analysis for the Implementation of Surplus Hydropower for Green Hydrogen Production in Ecuador," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-15, December.
    6. 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.
    7. Julia Burmistrova & Marc Beutel & Erin Hestir & Rebecca Ryals & Pramod Pandey, 2022. "Anaerobic Co-Digestion to Enhance Waste Management Sustainability at Yosemite National Park," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-12, September.
    8. Ebrahimian, Farinaz & Karimi, Keikhosro & Angelidaki, Irini, 2022. "Coproduction of hydrogen, butanol, butanediol, ethanol, and biogas from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste using bacterial cocultivation followed by anaerobic digestion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 552-560.
    9. Niccolò Frasi & Elena Rossi & Isabella Pecorini & Renato Iannelli, 2020. "Methane Oxidation Efficiency in Biofiltration Systems with Different Moisture Content Treating Diluted Landfill Gas," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-15, June.
    10. Jamshid Yakhshilikov & Marco Cavana & Pierluigi Leone, 2024. "A Review of the Energy System and Transport Sector in Uzbekistan in View of Future Hydrogen Uptake," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-30, August.
    11. Di Maria, Francesco & Sisani, Federico & Contini, Stefano, 2018. "Are EU waste-to-energy technologies effective for exploiting the energy in bio-waste?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 1557-1572.
    12. Patel, Sanjay K.S. & Das, Devashish & Kim, Sun Chang & Cho, Byung-Kwan & Kalia, Vipin Chandra & Lee, Jung-Kul, 2021. "Integrating strategies for sustainable conversion of waste biomass into dark-fermentative hydrogen and value-added products," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    13. Panupon Trairat & Sakda Somkun & Tanakorn Kaewchum & Tawat Suriwong & Pisit Maneechot & Teerapon Panpho & Wikarn Wansungnern & Sathit Banthuek & Bongkot Prasit & Tanongkiat Kiatsiriroat, 2023. "Grid Integration of Livestock Biogas Using Self-Excited Induction Generator and Spark-Ignition Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-23, June.
    14. Ayiguzhali Tuluhong & Qingpu Chang & Lirong Xie & Zhisen Xu & Tengfei Song, 2024. "Current Status of Green Hydrogen Production Technology: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-47, October.
    15. Seyedeh Azadeh Alavi-Borazjani & Shahzada Adeel & Valentina Chkoniya, 2025. "Hydrogen as a Sustainable Fuel: Transforming Maritime Logistics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-36, March.
    16. Mohsen Fallah Vostakola & Hasan Ozcan & Rami S. El-Emam & Bahman Amini Horri, 2023. "Recent Advances in High-Temperature Steam Electrolysis with Solid Oxide Electrolysers for Green Hydrogen Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-50, April.
    17. Isabella Pecorini & Eleonora Peruzzi & Elena Albini & Serena Doni & Cristina Macci & Grazia Masciandaro & Renato Iannelli, 2020. "Evaluation of MSW Compost and Digestate Mixtures for a Circular Economy Application," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, April.
    18. Isabella Pecorini & Elena Rossi & Renato Iannelli, 2020. "Bromatological, Proximate and Ultimate Analysis of OFMSW for Different Seasons and Collection Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, March.
    19. Li, Junjie & Xie, Zonghao & Shi, Jihao & Wang, Kaikai & Chang, Yuanjiang & Chen, Guoming & Usmani, Asif Sohail, 2025. "Domain adaptation based high-fidelity prediction for hydrogen-blended natural gas leakage and dispersion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    20. Isabella Pecorini & Francesco Baldi & Renato Iannelli, 2019. "Biochemical Hydrogen Potential Tests Using Different Inocula," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-17, 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:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:16:p:7200-:d:1461260. 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 The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (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.