Effect of potassium inhibition on the thermophilic anaerobic digestion of swine waste.

The inhibition effects of high potassium concentration on thermophilic anaerobic digestion of swine waste were studied. A continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), operated at a hydraulic retention time of 10 days and chemical oxygen demand loading of 7.2 to 7.5 g/L/d, was used to digest swine waste and cultivate thermophilic anaerobic microorganisms. To evaluate the toxicity of potassium, batch inhibition tests were also conducted. Without acclimation to potassium, the inhibition threshold beyond which methane production decreased significantly was 3 g K+/L. Volatile fatty acids accumulation was observed during the decline of methane production. Propionic acid was the dominant fatty acid, indicating that propionic acid utilizers were more sensitive to potassium inhibition than acetoclastic methanogens. To test the effect of acclimation on potassium inhibition, the potassium concentration in the CSTR was increased to 6 and 9 g K+/L. Acclimation to 6 g K+/L increased the tolerance of anaerobic inocula to potassium inhibition without significantly reducing the methanogenic activity. The inhibition threshold was increased from 3 g K+/L for unacclimated inocula, to 6 g K+/L for inocula acclimated to 6 g/L of potassium. Acclimation of inocula to 9 g/L potassium further increased the inhibition threshold to 7.5 g K+/L. However, the overall methanogenic activity in the last case was lower than that of unacclimated and 6 g K+/L acclimated inocula.     

Biohydrogen production from dairy manures with acidification pretreatment by anaerobic fermentation

Background, aim, and scope  

Hydrogen is a clean and efficient energy source and has been deemed as one of the most promising carriers of new energy for the future. From an engineering point of view, producing hydrogen by mixed cultures is generally preferred because of lower cost, ease of control, and the possible use of organic waste as feedstock. The biological hydrogen production has been intensively studied in recent decades. So far, most investigates of biohydrogen production are still confined to using pure carbohydrates and carbohydrate-rich wastewater. Nowadays, the large amounts of livestock manure, which come from cattle feedlots, poultry, and swine buildings, are causing a major environmental issue because it has become a primary source of odors, gases, dust, and groundwater contamination. The increasingly stringent requirements for pollution control on livestock manures are challenging the scientific community to develop new waste treatment strategies. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop nonpolluting and renewable energy source utilizing the organic waste (e.g., livestock manure). It is well known that anaerobic digestion had successfully been used for the disposal of manures to produce methane in the last two decades. Recently, an alternative strategy has been developed to convert livestock manures (e.g., dairy manures) to biohydrogen as a high value-added clean energy source instead of methane. However, little information is available on hydrogen production from dairy manure via the mixed anaerobic microbe. As far as we know, the hydrogen production is habitually accompanied with production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), such as acetate, butyrate, and propionate, which are also an optimal feedstock for production of methane by anaerobic digestion. Provided that the biohydrogen production from dairy manure is further combined with the anaerobic digestion of the effluent from the producing hydrogen reactor that would be a one-stone two-bird paradigm, it not only produces a clean and readily usable biologic energy but also cleans up simultaneously the environment in a sustainable fashion.     

挥发性脂肪酸对厌氧干式发酵产甲烷的影响

为了提高中温干式厌氧间歇发酵效率,研究了发酵过程中间产物———挥发性脂肪酸对产甲烷的影响。实验分2批进行,第1批在牛粪发酵过程中分别添加乙酸、丙酸和丁酸,第2批发酵添加易产生挥发酸的厨余垃圾混合发酵。结果显示,添加单一挥发酸的发酵过程中,添加丙酸的产甲烷速度较慢,因为丙酸降解生成乙酸的速度较慢,减慢了甲烷的形成;混合发酵过程厨余垃圾产甲烷速度比牛粪快,发酵过程产生2个产气高峰;牛粪和厨余垃圾固体物质含量比在11∶1到5∶1范围内较好,比牛粪单独发酵产气多,产酸高但不酸败,产生的挥发酸主要是乙酸和丙酸,其中比例为7∶1混合发酵的产甲烷速率最大,为4.89 mL/(g VS·d)。实验表明,牛粪厌氧干式发酵过程添加一定量的厨余垃圾可加快挥发酸的产生并提高挥发酸产量,从而提高甲烷的产量,但是总挥发酸长时间超过10 000 mg/L,pH降到不适于产甲烷菌生长的范围时,将抑制甲烷的生成,挥发酸积累导致厌氧发酵酸败。     

Anaerobic digestion of livestock and poultry manures spiked with tetracycline antibiotics

Abstract

We investigated the anaerobic degradation of tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline [TC], oxytetracycline [OTC] and chlortetracycline [CTC]) in swine, cattle, and poultry manures. The manures were anaerobically digested inside polyvinyl chloride batch reactors for 64?days at room temperature. The degradation rate constants and half-lives of the parent tetracyclines were determined following first-order kinetics. For CTC the fastest degradation rate was observed in swine manure (k?=?0.016?±?0.001 d^?1; half-life = 42.8?days), while the slowest degradation rate was observed in poultry litter (k?=?0.0043?±?0.001 d^?1; half-life = 161?days). The half-lives of OTC ranged between 88.9 (cattle manure) and 99.0?days (poultry litter), while TC persisted the longest of the tetracycline antibiotics studied with half-lives ranging from 92.4?days (cattle manure) to 330?days (swine manure). In general, the tetracyclines were found to degrade faster in cattle manure, which had the lowest concentrations of organic matter and metals as compared to swine and poultry manures. Our results demonstrate that tetracycline antibiotics persist in the animal manure after anaerobic digestion, which can potentially lead to emergence and persistence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the environment when anaerobic digestion byproducts are land applied for crop production.     

Effects of biochar addition on the anaerobic digestion of carbohydrate-rich,protein-rich,and lipid-rich substrates

ABSTRACT

Although biochar addition into the anaerobic digestion of food waste (FW) is an efficient means to enhance methane production, the effects of biochar on various FW components remain unclear. Laboratory batch experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of sewage sludge-derived biochar (SSB) supplementation on the anaerobic digestion (AD) of major FW components, including carbohydrate-rich, protein-rich, and lipid-rich substrates. The lag phase of AD with the carbohydrate-rich substrate was 48.6% shorter when SSB was added, and the cumulative methane yield was 4.74 times higher compared to AD without biochar. SSB supplementation also increased the rate of methane production from the lipid-rich substrate. However, the effect of SSB addition on AD of the protein-rich substrate was minor. Analysis of the microbial communities revealed that methanogen growth was enhanced during AD of the carbohydrate-rich and lipid-rich substrates, but not the protein-rich substrate, following SSB supplementation. Also, the most dominant methanogenic genus varied with the substrates. SSB addition promoted the growth of hydrolytic and fermentative bacteria, particularly phylum Bacteroidetes.

Implications: Biochar supplementation has been studied to overcome the shortcomings of anaerobic digestion (AD). However, the effects of biochar on different substrates remain unclear. This study compared carbohydrate-rich, protein-rich, and lipid-rich substrates in anaerobic digestion with sewage sludge-derived biochar (SSB). SSB supplementation improved methane generation from all but the protein-rich substrate. The study results imply that the effect of SSB addition on AD varied with the substrate due to the substrates underwent different degradation processes with different microbial communities.     

Aerobic treatment of swine manure to enhance anaerobic digestion and microalgal cultivation

Aerobic treatment of swine manure was coupled with anaerobic digestion and microalgal cultivation. A 14-day aerobic treatment reduced the total solid content of swine manure by >15%. Ammonia and carbon dioxide were stripped by the air supplied, and this off-gas was further used to aerate the culture of Chlorella vulgaris. The microalgal growth rates in Bristol medium and the wastewater with the off-gas increased from 0.08 to 0.22 g/L/d and from 0.15 to 0.24 g/L/d, respectively. Meanwhile, the aerobically treated swine manure showed a higher methane yield during anaerobic digestion. The experimental results were used to establish a demonstration unit consisting of a 100 L composter, a 200 L anaerobic digester, a 60 L tubular photobioreactor, and a 300 L micro-open raceway pond.     

污泥与餐厨垃圾联合厌氧发酵产氢余物产甲烷条件优化研究

研究了21、37和47 d产甲烷物料代替新鲜污泥接种于污泥与餐厨垃圾联合厌氧发酵产氢余物的厌氧发酵产甲烷情况,发现接种47 d产甲烷物料的消化系统在最佳接种量50%条件下的产甲烷效能显著优于接种新鲜污泥的消化系统,不仅提高了产甲烷率,还大大缩短了消化时间。并且3种消化系统产甲烷率和比产甲烷率均为47 d37 d21 d,分别为3.78、3.88、6.15 mL/g和0.172、0.277、0.559 mL/(g·d),完成产甲烷过程的消化时间为47 d37 d21 d。在一定的消化时间范围内,产甲烷菌被驯化时间越长,接种于产氢余物中的产甲烷效能越好。     

餐厨垃圾高温厌氧消化

在中试规模下,研究餐厨垃圾高温厌氧消化试验,通过监测餐厨垃圾厌氧消化过程中产气量、气体组成等产气情况和消化液中pH值、SCOD、NH4+-N、VFAs等化学指标含量变化,确定餐厨垃圾厌氧消化的最大有机负荷,并分析餐厨垃圾高温厌氧消化技术的可行性,结果表明,在工程上餐厨垃圾单独进行高温厌氧消化产甲烷具有技术可行性,但难以保证系统长时间安全稳定运行;餐厨垃圾厌氧消化正常运行时最大有机负荷可达2.551 kg VS/(m3.d);当系统有机负荷为2.551 kg VS/(m3.d)时,每天每千克VS最高可产生甲烷量0.622 m3;氨氮对餐厨垃圾厌氧消化产甲烷影响明显;餐厨垃圾中固有Na+含量对厌氧消化产甲烷影响不明显。     

Optimal loading rates and economic analyses for anaerobic digestion of poultry waste

Four combinations of litter and carcasses from broiler chickens were examined utilizing a thermophilic, stirred-tank digester of demonstration size of approximately 10,000 gal. Under computed optimal loading rates, litter with paper bedding had the highest daily production of methane over an 8-day retention period. The greatest methane production per lb of volatile solids was achieved over 10 days with litter and paper bedding combined with carcasses. This research found that sufficient poultry litter is generated within 20 mi (32 km) of Moorefield, WV, to support a commercial-sized digester operation. However, anaerobic digestion of poultry waste cannot be financially supported by methane production alone. To be financially viable, anaerobic digestion requires a disposal fee for poultry waste and/or the sale of the digested solid effluent as an organic fertilizer to retail markets.     

Anaerobic digestion of thermal-alkaline–pretreated cephalosporin bacterial residues for methane production

Optimum anaerobic conditions of cephalosporin bacterial residues after thermal-alkaline pretreatment were determined by orthogonal experiments. And through biochemical methane potential tests (BMPs) for cephalosporin bacterial residues, the ability for bacterial degradation of cephalosporin was also evaluated. The thermal-alkaline pretreatment with the optimum values of 6% NaOH at 105 °C for 15 min significantly improved digestion performance. With the thermal-alkaline pretreatment, the specific methane yield of the pretreated cephalosporin bacterial residue increased by 254.79% compared with that of the un-pretreated cephalosporin bacterial residue. The results showed that anaerobic digestion of thermal-alkaline–pretreated cephalosporin bacterial residues could be one of the options for efficient methane production and waste treatment.

Implications: This work investigates the thermal-alkaline pretreatment of cephalosporin bacterial residues, which can increase their methane yield by 254.79% compared with no pretreatment. The digestion performance is significantly improved under the condition of 6% NaOH at 105 °C for 15 min. The results show that anaerobic digestion of thermal-alkaline–pretreated cephalosporin bacterial residues could be one of the options for efficient methane production and waste treatment.     

Optimal Loading Rates and Economic Analyses for Anaerobic Digestion of Poultry Waste

ABSTRACT

Four combinations of litter and carcasses from broiler chickens were examined utilizing a thermophilic, stirred-tank digester of demonstration size of approximately 10,000 gal. Under computed optimal loading rates, litter with paper bedding had the highest daily production of methane over an 8-day retention period. The greatest methane production per lb of volatile solids was achieved over 10 days with litter and paper bedding combined with carcasses. This research found that sufficient poultry litter is generated within 20 mi (32 km) of Moorefield, WV, to support a commercial-sized digester operation. However, anaerobic digestion of poultry waste cannot be financially supported by methane production alone. To be financially viable, anaerobic digestion requires a disposal fee for poultry waste and/or the sale of the digested solid effluent as an organic fertilizer to retail markets.     

固含率和稀释率对餐厨垃圾水解酸化过程的影响研究

研究了餐厨垃圾分批厌氧消解过程中不同起始固含率（10％,12％和14％）和稀释率（0.25 d^－1和0.33 d^－1）对水解酸化过程pH值、垃圾消解、水解酸化液生产效率、脂肪酸组成和浓度等的影响。实验结果发现：以总固体去除率、单位质量垃圾累积COD溶出量（ACODm）和单位体积反应器累积COD溶出量（ACODv）等指标作为评价标准,起始固含率12％的体系具有较高的垃圾处理效率和反应器运行效率。与稀释率0.25 d^－1的体系相比,稀释率0.33 d^－1的体系在pH稳定性、总固体去除率和水解酸化液生产效率等方面具有明显的优势。所有体系中水解酸化产生的脂肪酸和醇均以乙酸、乙醇和丁酸为主,丙酸占总脂肪酸和醇的百分数在14.6％到17.1％之间,这种脂肪酸组成不会发生丙酸抑制,有利于后续产甲烷发酵的进行。     

料液浓度对鸭粪中温厌氧消化的影响

在中温35±1 ℃、pH为中性条件下,采用10 L玻璃瓶作为反应器对料液浓度分别为2%、6%、10%和15%的4组鸭粪溶液进行厌氧消化实验,系统运行30 d,分析了厌氧消化过程中的COD、pH、挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)和产气量的变化.结果表明,调节料液浓度至合适的水平对鸭粪厌氧消化过程非常重要,调节鸭粪进料浓度至6%,可...     

Developing an anaerobic digester with external Zeolite filled column for enhancing methane production from swine manure – A feasibility study

ABSTRACT

Development of digesters with an external zeolite column facilitates the convenient removal of the zeolite with TAN, without disturbing the continuous anaerobic digestion process. A digester with an inside zeolite bed (In-Zeo) and digester without adding zeolite (No-Zeo) were employed to compare the process performance with digester with external zeolite column (EX-Zeo). The cumulative, CH₄ yields were 5% and 15% greater in the EX-Zeo, and the In-Zeo digesters respectively compared to the No-Zeo digesters. Also, the % VS reduction was 49%, 55% and 41%, respectively in the Ex-Zeo, In-Zeo and No-Zeo digesters. The results indicated that treatment with 7% zeolite during anaerobic digestion has the potential to improve biodegradation of swine manure. The addition of zeolite appeared to reduce TAN from the digestate, thereby enhancing the CH₄ yield. Zeolite could be used either internally or externally to enhance CH₄ production through anaerobic digestion of swine manure.     

接种比对餐厨垃圾干式厌氧发酵启动的影响

针对不同接种比对餐厨垃圾干式厌氧发酵启动的影响,对比分析了VS接种比分别为0.36和0.90两种情况下,餐厨垃圾干式厌氧发酵启动过程中pH、NH4-N、COD、VFA、甲烷含量等指标的变化。实验结果表明,启动初期2组样品pH分别快速降至4.74和5.68,均呈酸化状态,经碱液调整后,接种比为0.36的处理仍无法正常产气,接种比为0.90的处理,pH逐步提高,系统正常运行,经72 d的发酵实验,COD去除率达90.29%,甲烷含量高于60%的沼气产量达255.4 L,分析可见,VS接种比是干式厌氧发酵处理的重要参数;此外,与传统湿式厌氧发酵处理相比,餐厨垃圾干式厌氧发酵在较高的VFA和氨氮浓度下,仍能正常运行,采用干式厌氧发酵技术处理餐厨垃圾是可行的。     

An assessment of the feasibility of employing biochemical acidogenic potential tests for characterizing anaerobic biodegradability of raw and pretreated waste activated sludge

The potential to use the results of biochemical acid potential (BAP) tests to predict the ultimate digestibility of raw and pretreated waste activated sludge (WAS) was investigated. The ultimate methane production from biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests on raw and pretreated samples which spanned a range of biodegradability proved linearly related to the volatile fatty acid (VFA) and soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD) production in corresponding BAP tests. In addition, a linear relationship between NH4-N production in the BMP and BAP tests was observed. Despite the linear nature of the relationships, the ratio of the production of methane in the BMP tests to the production of VFAs in the BAP tests varied with the biodegradability of the sludge samples. Waste Activated Sludge samples with low digestibility had ultimate yields of CH4 that were greater than the VFA yields in BAP tests, whereas sludge samples with high digestibility had lower yields of CH4 than the corresponding VFA yields. This trend contrasted with the NH4 results, in which the yields in the BAP tests were consistently less than those observed in the BMP tests. It was hypothesized that the varying relationship between CH4 and VFA yields was because of the inhibition of anaerobic oxidation of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) in the BAP tests. Long-chain fatty acids would be converted to CH4 in BMP tests but produced as digestion intermediates in the BAP tests and were not measured as part of the VFA yield. Hydrogen and acetate were identified as the two most likely intermediates that would accumulate in the BAP tests (which would cause inhibition). A stoichiometric model to facilitate the development of an improved understanding of the biodegradation processes in the BAP and BMP tests was assembled. When the model was applied to the BAP tests the anaerobic oxidation of LCFAs and propionate and methanogenesis were excluded from the model. The model was employed to estimate the extent of degradation of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins in the batch tests as a function of the ultimate biodegradability of the sludge samples. On the basis of model fitting, it was determined that the degradation of lipids in BMP tests decreased, whereas the degradation of carbohydrates and proteins increased as the digestibility of the sludge samples increased. The varying ratio of lipid to protein and carbohydrate degradability with increasing digestibility of the sludge samples describes the relationship between VFA production and CH4 production in the BAP, and BMP tests, respectively.     

The anaerobic biodegradability of municipal sludge and fat, oil, and grease at mesophilic conditions.

The anaerobic biodegradability of municipal primary and secondary sludge with increasing levels of partially dewatered fat, oil, and grease (FOG) was assessed using a mixed methanogenic culture at 35 "C. Under batch conditions with an acclimated and enriched microbial population, the sludge loading was 3 kg volatile solids/m3 and the highest FOG loading tested was 1.5 kg volatile solids/m3, resulting in a methane yield of 245 mL methane/g sludge volatile solids added at 35 degrees C and 1010 mL methane/g FOG volatile solids added at 35 degrees C. Under semicontinuous feeding conditions, the sludge and sludge plus FOG loading tested were 3 and 3.75 kg volatile solids/m3-d, respectively. Within 23 days of operation, the volatile fatty acid concentrations were reduced below 200 mg chemical oxygen demand/L (187 mg/L as acetic acid). Enhancement of sludge digestion was observed in those reactors where codigestion of sludge and FOG took place, which was attributed to a higher level of microbial activity maintained in these reactors as a result of FOG degradation. The results of this study demonstrate that beneficial use of FOG through codigestion with municipal sludge is feasible.     

苯酚的厌氧生物处理

采用不断增加苯酚浓度而降低葡萄糖浓度的方法可驯化厌氧污泥中的微生物,使厌氧污泥最终以苯酚为唯一碳源生长,可显著提高厌氧污泥降解苯酚的能力;对苯酚间歇厌氧降解过程进行了分析。苯酚浓度在0～1.680 mg/L范围内,其厌氧降解过程符合一级动力学。Aiba模型、Haldane模型和Teisser 模型均可很好地描述处于对数期时厌氧污泥的比生长速率与初始底物浓度之间的关系,其中以Teisser 模型模拟的效果最好。将驯化污泥接种于UASB中可实现对含酚废水处理的连续运行,最大的有机负荷达2 g COD/（L·d）,稳定运行时苯酚的去除率可维持在96%以上。     

Biohydrogen production through fermentation using liquid swine manure as substrate

In this paper, continuous production of hydrogen through fermentation with liquid swine manure as substrate was researched using a semi-continuously fed fermenter (8 L in total volume and 4 L in working volume). The pH and temperature for the fermenter were controlled at 5.3 ± 0.1 and 35 ± 1°C, respectively, throughout the experiment. Three hydraulic retention times (16, 20, and 24 h) were investigated for their impact on the efficiency and performance of the fermenter in terms of hydrogen yields. The results indicate that hydraulic retention time (HRT) has a strong influence on the fermenter performance. An increasing HRT would increase the variation in hydrogen concentration in the offgas. To produce hydrogen with a fairly consistent concentration, the HRT of the fermenter should not exceed 16 h, which, however, did not appear to be short enough to control methanogenesis because the offgas still contained about 5% methane. When methane content in the offgas exceeded 2%, an inverse linear relationship between hydrogen and methane was observed with a correlation coefficient of 0.9699. To increase hydrogen content in the offgas, methane production has to be limited to below 2%. Also, keeping oxygen content in the fermenter below 1.5% would increase the hydrogen concentration to over 15%. The product to substrate ratio was found to be around 50% for the fermenter system studied, evidenced by the observation that for every 6 liters of manure fermented, 3 liters of pure hydrogen were produced, which was significant and encouraging.