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Heavy Metal and Antimicrobial Residue Levels in Various Types of Digestate from Biogas Plants—A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Małgorzata Czatzkowska

    (Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Damian Rolbiecki

    (European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 90-364 Lodz, Poland)

  • Ewa Korzeniewska

    (Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Monika Harnisz

    (Department of Water Protection Engineering and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

Abstract

Global population growth generates problems relating to increasing demand for sustainable energy and waste treatment. Proper solid waste management promotes material reuse, maximizes recovery and reduces anthropological pressure on natural resources. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an alternative method of stabilizing organic substrates and generating biogas as a source of environmentally friendly energy. In addition, digestate is not only a waste product of that process but also a renewable resource with many potential applications. The circular economy concept encourages the use of digestate as a source of nutrients that promotes plant growth and improves soil properties. However, the stabilized substrates often contain various contaminants, including heavy metals (HMs) and antibiotics that are also detected in digestate. Therefore, the agricultural use of digestate obtained by AD could increase the pool of these pollutants in soil and water environments and contribute to their circulation in these ecosystems. Moreover, digestate may also increase the co-selection of genes determining resistance to HMs and antibiotics in environmental microorganisms. This article comprehensively reviews published data on the residues of various HMs and antimicrobial substances in different digestates around the world and maps the scope of the problem. Moreover, the potential risk of residual levels of these contaminants in digestate has also been evaluated. The review highlights the lack of legal standards regulating the concentrations of drugs introduced into the soil with digestate. The results of the ecological risk assessment indicate that the presence of medically important antimicrobials in digestate products, especially those used in agriculture, should be limited.

Suggested Citation

  • Małgorzata Czatzkowska & Damian Rolbiecki & Ewa Korzeniewska & Monika Harnisz, 2025. "Heavy Metal and Antimicrobial Residue Levels in Various Types of Digestate from Biogas Plants—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-26, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:416-:d:1562233
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Izabela Wolak & Sylwia Bajkacz & Monika Harnisz & Klaudia Stando & Magdalena Męcik & Ewa Korzeniewska, 2023. "Digestate from Agricultural Biogas Plants as a Reservoir of Antimicrobials and Antibiotic Resistance Genes—Implications for the Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-19, February.
    2. Scarlat, Nicolae & Dallemand, Jean-François & Fahl, Fernando, 2018. "Biogas: Developments and perspectives in Europe," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 457-472.
    3. Aleksandra Szaja & Agnieszka Montusiewicz & Magdalena Lebiocka, 2023. "Variability of Micro- and Macro-Elements in Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Municipal Sewage Sludge and Food Industrial By-Products," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Małgorzata Czatzkowska & Izabela Wolak & Monika Harnisz & Ewa Korzeniewska, 2022. "Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on the Dissemination of ARGs in the Environment—A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-29, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hossain, Md. Sanowar & Emon, Abir Shahorior & Mhamud, Rifat & Robin, Hasan Muhommod & Mourshed, Monjur & Rahman, Md. Al Amin, 2025. "Anaerobic co-digestion of cow dung and poultry litter for sustainable biogas production: A green energy solution for Bangladesh's garment industry," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).

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