IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i14p6553-d1704189.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Process Intensification of Anaerobic Digestion of Biowastes for Improved Biomethane Production: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Sahil Sahil

    (Department of Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, Canada)

  • Sonil Nanda

    (Department of Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, Canada)

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion is a widely adopted technique for biologically converting organic biomass to biogas under oxygen-limited conditions. However, several factors, including the properties of biomass and its complex structure, make it challenging to degrade biomass effectively, thereby reducing the overall efficiency of anaerobic digestion. This review examines the recent advancements in commonly used pretreatment techniques, including physical, chemical, and biological methods, and their impact on the biodegradability of organic waste for anaerobic digestion. Furthermore, this review explores integrated approaches that utilize two or more pretreatments to achieve synergistic effects on biomass degradation. This article highlights various additives and their physicochemical characteristics, which play a vital role in stimulating direct interspecies electron transfer to enhance biomethanation reaction rates. Direct electron interspecies transfer is a crucial aspect that accelerates electron transfer among syntrophic microbial communities during anaerobic digestion, thereby enhancing biomethane formation. Finally, this article reviews potential approaches, identifies research gaps, and outlines future directions to strengthen and develop advanced pretreatment strategies and novel additives to improve anaerobic digestion processes for generating high-value biogas.

Suggested Citation

  • Sahil Sahil & Sonil Nanda, 2025. "Process Intensification of Anaerobic Digestion of Biowastes for Improved Biomethane Production: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-35, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6553-:d:1704189
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6553/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6553/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marcin Dębowski & Marcin Zieliński & Anna Nowicka & Joanna Kazimierowicz, 2024. "Influence of Microwave-Assisted Chemical Thermohydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Waste Biomass on Anaerobic Digestion Efficiency," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Prakhar Talwar & Mariana Alzate Agudelo & Sonil Nanda, 2025. "Pyrolysis Process, Reactors, Products, and Applications: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-32, June.
    3. Yue, Liangchen & Cheng, Jun & Tang, Suqin & An, Xiaoxia & Hua, Junjie & Dong, Haiquan & Zhou, Junhu, 2021. "Ultrasound and microwave pretreatments promote methane production potential and energy conversion during anaerobic digestion of lipid and food wastes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    4. Wang, Zhenru & Li, Yuan & Ao, Zhipeng & Li, Yang & Zhao, Zhiqiang & Zhang, Yaobin, 2024. "Boosting conversion of waste activated sludge to methane during anaerobic digestion via facilitating direct interspecies electron transfer with glycerol," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    5. de Sousa e Silva, Amanda & Lima Moraes dos Santos, Amanda & Cavalcante Malveira, Isabele Clara & Holanda Albano Girão, Bianca & Bezerra dos Santos, André, 2024. "Effect of thermo-alkaline pretreatment and substrate inoculum ratio on methane production from dry and semi-dry anaerobic digestion of swine manure," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    6. Du, Jing & Qian, Yuting & Xi, Yonglan & Lü, Xiwu, 2019. "Hydrothermal and alkaline thermal pretreatment at mild temperature in solid state for physicochemical properties and biogas production from anaerobic digestion of rice straw," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 261-267.
    7. Zhang, Quanguo & Hu, Jianjun & Lee, Duu-Jong, 2017. "Pretreatment of biomass using ionic liquids: Research updates," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 77-84.
    8. Anna Nowicka & Magda Dudek & Marcin Dębowski & Marek Markowski & Ireneusz Białobrzewski & Marcin Zieliński, 2025. "Influence of Microwave Thermohydrolysis on Biomass Digestion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-15, March.
    9. Li, Ai-Hua & Zhang, Bao-Cai & Li, Wen-Tao & Tang, Cong-Cong & Zhou, Ai-Juan & Ren, Yong-Xiang & Li, Zhihua & Liu, Wenzong & He, Zhang-Wei, 2024. "Quorum-sensing molecules regulate biochar-assisted anaerobic digestion system for methane production: Single-stage vs. two-stage digestion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    10. Sarto, Sarto & Hildayati, Raudati & Syaichurrozi, Iqbal, 2019. "Effect of chemical pretreatment using sulfuric acid on biogas production from water hyacinth and kinetics," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 335-350.
    11. Anna Nowicka & Marcin Zieliński & Marcin Dębowski & Magda Dudek, 2021. "Progress in the Production of Biogas from Maize Silage after Acid-Heat Pretreatment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-16, December.
    12. Nanda, Sonil & Azargohar, Ramin & Dalai, Ajay K. & Kozinski, Janusz A., 2015. "An assessment on the sustainability of lignocellulosic biomass for biorefining," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 925-941.
    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. 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).
    2. Anna Nowicka & Magda Dudek & Marcin Dębowski & Marek Markowski & Ireneusz Białobrzewski & Marcin Zieliński, 2025. "Influence of Microwave Thermohydrolysis on Biomass Digestion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Mirmohamadsadeghi, Safoora & Karimi, Keikhosro & Azarbaijani, Reza & Parsa Yeganeh, Laleh & Angelidaki, Irini & Nizami, Abdul-Sattar & Bhat, Rajeev & Dashora, Kavya & Vijay, Virendra Kumar & Aghbashlo, 2021. "Pretreatment of lignocelluloses for enhanced biogas production: A review on influencing mechanisms and the importance of microbial diversity," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    4. Obianuju Patience Ilo & Mulala Danny Simatele & S’phumelele Lucky Nkomo & Ntandoyenkosi Malusi Mkhize & Nagendra Gopinath Prabhu, 2021. "Methodological Approaches to Optimising Anaerobic Digestion of Water Hyacinth for Energy Efficiency in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    5. Gupta, Rohit & Murray, Cameron & Sloan, William T. & You, Siming, 2025. "Predicting the methane production of microwave-pretreated anaerobic digestion of food waste: A machine learning approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    6. Syaichurrozi, Iqbal & Basyir, M. Fakhri & Farraz, Rafi Muhammad & Rusdi, Rusdi, 2020. "A preliminary study: Effect of initial pH and Saccharomyces cerevisiae addition on biogas production from acid-pretreated Salvinia molesta and kinetics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    7. Solarte-Toro, Juan Camilo & Romero-García, Juan Miguel & Martínez-Patiño, Juan Carlos & Ruiz-Ramos, Encarnación & Castro-Galiano, Eulogio & Cardona-Alzate, Carlos Ariel, 2019. "Acid pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for energy vectors production: A review focused on operational conditions and techno-economic assessment for bioethanol production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 587-601.
    8. Radhakrishnan, Rokesh & Manna, Bharat & Ghosh, Amit, 2023. "Molecular insights into dissolution of lignin bunch in ionic liquid-water mixture for enhanced biomass conversion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 47-59.
    9. Aghili Mehrizi, Amirreza & Tangestaninejad, Shahram & Denayer, Joeri F.M. & Karimi, Keikhosro & Shafiei, Marzieh, 2023. "The critical impacts of anion and cosolvent on morpholinium ionic liquid pretreatment for efficient renewable energy production from triticale straw," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 686-698.
    10. Stafford, W. & De Lange, W. & Nahman, A. & Chunilall, V. & Lekha, P. & Andrew, J. & Johakimu, J. & Sithole, B. & Trotter, D., 2020. "Forestry biorefineries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 461-475.
    11. 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).
    12. Lin, Jun & Li, Yanan & Qian, Yanjun & Liu, Guoquan, 2024. "Effectiveness of government subsidies for biomass-based industries: Incorporating the feedstock acquisition process," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    13. Dawid Szwarc & Anna Nowicka & Katarzyna Głowacka, 2022. "Cross-Comparison of the Impact of Grass Silage Pulsed Electric Field and Microwave-Induced Disintegration on Biogas Production Efficiency," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-10, July.
    14. Dar, Rouf Ahmad & Tsui, To-Hung & Zhang, Le & Smoliński, Adam & Tong, Yen Wah & Mohamed Rasmey, Abdel-Hamied & Liu, Ronghou, 2025. "Recent achievements in magnetic-field-assisted anaerobic digestion for bioenergy production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    15. Azargohar, Ramin & Nanda, Sonil & Kang, Kang & Bond, Toby & Karunakaran, Chithra & Dalai, Ajay K. & Kozinski, Janusz A., 2019. "Effects of bio-additives on the physicochemical properties and mechanical behavior of canola hull fuel pellets," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 296-307.
    16. Fasahati, Peyman & Liu, J. Jay & Ohlrogge, John B. & Saffron, Christopher M., 2019. "Process design and economics for production of advanced biofuels from genetically modified lipid-producing sorghum," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 1459-1470.
    17. Radhakrishnan, Rokesh & Patra, Pradipta & Das, Manali & Ghosh, Amit, 2021. "Recent advancements in the ionic liquid mediated lignin valorization for the production of renewable materials and value-added chemicals," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    18. Wu, Bo & Wang, Yan-Wei & Dai, Yong-Hua & Song, Chao & Zhu, Qi-Li & Qin, Han & Tan, Fu-Rong & Chen, Han-Cheng & Dai, Li-Chun & Hu, Guo-Quan & He, Ming-Xiong, 2021. "Current status and future prospective of bio-ethanol industry in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    19. Patricia Portero-Barahona & Enrique Javier Carvajal-Barriga & Jesús Martín-Gil & Pablo Martín-Ramos, 2019. "Sugarcane Bagasse Hydrolysis Enhancement by Microwave-Assisted Sulfolane Pretreatment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-15, May.
    20. Cheng, F. & Brewer, C.E., 2021. "Conversion of protein-rich lignocellulosic wastes to bio-energy: Review and recommendations for hydrolysis + fermentation and anaerobic digestion," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).

    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:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6553-:d:1704189. 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.