Addition of Different Biochars as Catalysts during the Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Mixed Wastewater Sludge
Biochar (BC) recently gained attention as an additive for anaerobic digestion (AD). This work aims at a critical analysis of the effect of six BCs, with different physical and chemical properties, on the AD of mixed wastewater sludge at 37 °C, comparing their influence on methane production and AD k...
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doaj-86ec60fdf22747548958586179be8e6a2021-09-25T23:51:28ZengMDPI AGCatalysts2073-43442021-09-01111094109410.3390/catal11091094Addition of Different Biochars as Catalysts during the Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Mixed Wastewater SludgeMarco Chiappero0Francesca Cillerai1Franco Berruti2Ondřej Mašek3Silvia Fiore4DIATI (Department of Engineering for Environment, Land and Infrastructures), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDIATI (Department of Engineering for Environment, Land and Infrastructures), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, CanadaUK Biochar Research Centre (UKBRC), School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JN, UKDIATI (Department of Engineering for Environment, Land and Infrastructures), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyBiochar (BC) recently gained attention as an additive for anaerobic digestion (AD). This work aims at a critical analysis of the effect of six BCs, with different physical and chemical properties, on the AD of mixed wastewater sludge at 37 °C, comparing their influence on methane production and AD kinetics. AD batch tests were performed at the laboratory scale operating 48 reactors (0.25 L working volume) for 28 days with the addition of 10 g L<sup>−1</sup> of BC. Most reactors supplemented with BCs exhibited higher (up to 22%) methane yields than the control reactors (0.15 Nm<sup>3</sup> kg<sub>VS</sub><sup>−1</sup>). The modified Gompertz model provided maximum methane production rate values, and in all reactors the lag-phase was equal to zero days, indicating a good adaptation of the inoculum to the substrate. The potential correlations between BCs’ properties and AD performance were assessed using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA results showed a reasonable correlation between methane production and the BCs’ O–C and H–C molar ratios, and volatile matter, and between biogas production and BCs’ pore volume, specific surface area, and fixed and total carbon. In conclusion, the physic-chemical properties of BC (specifically, hydrophobicity and morphology) showed a key role in improving the AD of mixed wastewater sludge.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/11/9/1094anaerobic digestionbiocharsludgewastewater |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Marco Chiappero Francesca Cillerai Franco Berruti Ondřej Mašek Silvia Fiore |
spellingShingle |
Marco Chiappero Francesca Cillerai Franco Berruti Ondřej Mašek Silvia Fiore Addition of Different Biochars as Catalysts during the Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Mixed Wastewater Sludge Catalysts anaerobic digestion biochar sludge wastewater |
author_facet |
Marco Chiappero Francesca Cillerai Franco Berruti Ondřej Mašek Silvia Fiore |
author_sort |
Marco Chiappero |
title |
Addition of Different Biochars as Catalysts during the Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Mixed Wastewater Sludge |
title_short |
Addition of Different Biochars as Catalysts during the Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Mixed Wastewater Sludge |
title_full |
Addition of Different Biochars as Catalysts during the Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Mixed Wastewater Sludge |
title_fullStr |
Addition of Different Biochars as Catalysts during the Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Mixed Wastewater Sludge |
title_full_unstemmed |
Addition of Different Biochars as Catalysts during the Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Mixed Wastewater Sludge |
title_sort |
addition of different biochars as catalysts during the mesophilic anaerobic digestion of mixed wastewater sludge |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Catalysts |
issn |
2073-4344 |
publishDate |
2021-09-01 |
description |
Biochar (BC) recently gained attention as an additive for anaerobic digestion (AD). This work aims at a critical analysis of the effect of six BCs, with different physical and chemical properties, on the AD of mixed wastewater sludge at 37 °C, comparing their influence on methane production and AD kinetics. AD batch tests were performed at the laboratory scale operating 48 reactors (0.25 L working volume) for 28 days with the addition of 10 g L<sup>−1</sup> of BC. Most reactors supplemented with BCs exhibited higher (up to 22%) methane yields than the control reactors (0.15 Nm<sup>3</sup> kg<sub>VS</sub><sup>−1</sup>). The modified Gompertz model provided maximum methane production rate values, and in all reactors the lag-phase was equal to zero days, indicating a good adaptation of the inoculum to the substrate. The potential correlations between BCs’ properties and AD performance were assessed using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA results showed a reasonable correlation between methane production and the BCs’ O–C and H–C molar ratios, and volatile matter, and between biogas production and BCs’ pore volume, specific surface area, and fixed and total carbon. In conclusion, the physic-chemical properties of BC (specifically, hydrophobicity and morphology) showed a key role in improving the AD of mixed wastewater sludge. |
topic |
anaerobic digestion biochar sludge wastewater |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/11/9/1094 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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