Co-digestion of municipal waste biopulp with marine macroalgae focusing on sodium inhibition. (15th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsapekos, Panagiotis; Alvarado-Morales, Merlin; Kougias, Panagiotis G.; Konstantopoulos, Konstantinos; Angelidaki, Irini
• Is Part Of: Energy conversion and management. Volume 180(2019)
• Page Start: 931
• Page End: 937
• Publication Date: 2019-01-15
• Subjects: Biopulp -- Macroalgae -- Biogas production -- Modelling -- Sodium inhibition; Direct energy conversion -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Periodicals; Energy transfer -- Periodicals; Énergie -- Conversion directe -- Périodiques; Direct energy conversion; Periodicals; 621.3105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2018.11.048
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0196-8904

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Biogas production from municipal biopulp and macroalgae was examined. High methane yield was achieved when the share of biopulp was 80% VS. Co-digestion process was sufficiently succeeded in a continuously fed digester. The experiments were validated using the BioModel with high prediction accuracy. BioModel revealed that aceticlastic methanogens are strongly inhibited by sodium. Abstract: The anaerobic digestion (AD) of municipal biopulp with two macroalgal biomasses (i.e. Saccharina latissima and Fucus serratus ) was investigated at batch and continuously fed digesters at thermophilic conditions (54 ± 1 °C). At batch mono-digestion tests, municipal biopulp was associated with significantly higher methane production (549 ± 9 mLCH4 /gVS) compared to both S. latissima (210 ± 13 mLCH4 /gVS) and F. serratus (206 ± 37 mLCH4 /gVS). Regarding batch co-digestion tests, the highest methane yield was achieved when the feedstock consisted of 80% VS of biopulp and 20% VS of macroalgal biomass and it corresponded to the single methane contributions. The batch results were confirmed by continuous mode operation experiments, for the mono-digestion of biopulp and subsequently, the co-digestion with S. latissima . A specific challenge encountered with macroalgae biomethanation is the high sodium content. Therefore, mathematical modelling was followed to predict the performance of continuous mode experiments under increased salinity conditions by simulating the addition of more saline feedstock. The experimental results were used to calibrate and validate the model. Modelling simulations revealed that usage of saline feedstocks can drastically inhibit a well-performing AD reactor.