Effects of the support material addition on the hydrodynamic behavior of an anaerobic expanded granular sludge bed reactor

As a support material, zeolite can be used to promote the granulation process due to its high settable property and the ability to retain biomass on its surface. The present paper reports on the influence of zeolite addition on the hydrodynamic behavior of an expanded granular sludge bed reactor (EGSB). Different models were applied to fit the flow pattern and to compare EGSB hydrodynamic performance with and without the addition of zeolite. The experimental data fit the tanks in a series model for zeolite bed height of 5 cm and upflow velocity of 6 m/hr. Higher axial dispersion degree (D/uL) was obtained at lower heights of zeolite. The real hydraulic retention time (HRTr) was increased with both increased zeolite bed height and increased upflow velocity. The short-circuit results for 5 cm of zeolite bed and 6, 8 and 10 m/hr upflow velocity were 0.3, 0.24 and 0.19 respectively, demonstrating the feasibility of using zeolite for a proper hydrodynamic environment to operate the EGSB reactor. The presence of zeolite resulted in the higher percentage values of dead zones, ranging from 12% to 24%. Zeolite addition exerted a positive effect on the hydrodynamics pattern for this technology being advantageous for the anaerobic process because of its possible contribution to better biofilm agglomeration, granule formation and substrate-microorganism contact.     

Spatio-temporal variation of landfill gas in pilot-scale semi-aerobic and anaerobic landfills over 5 years

Variation of CH₄, CO₂, and O₂ concentrations in layers of different depths in semi-aerobic and anaerobic landfills was analyzed over a period of 5 years. The results showed that most of the municipal solid waste became basically stable after 5 years of landfill disposal. In the upper and middle layer, the concentration of CH₄ in the semi-aerobic landfill was significantly lower than that in the anaerobic landfill in different landfill periods, while in the lower layer, there was little difference in the CH₄ concentration between the semi-aerobic and anaerobic landfills. The average concentration of CH₄ and CO₂ in the anaerobic landfill was always higher than that in the semi-aerobic landfill, while the O₂ concentration showed an opposite variation in different landfill periods. This was related to the aerobic reaction of landfill waste around the perforated pipe in the semi-aerobic landfill, which inhibited effective landfill gas generation.     

厌氧发酵处理红霉素菌渣的效能及红霉素降解规律研究

红霉素菌渣是宝贵的资源,但却含有少量的红霉素残留,潜在引发环境细菌耐药的风险,被国家定义为危险废物。文章采用厌氧发酵技术处理红霉素菌渣,拟借助微生物作用降低抗生素残留并制取生物燃气,文中考察了红霉素残留随厌氧发酵过程的降解规律。研究发现:中温(35℃)发酵、接种比为0.4、含固率为8%时,单位池容产气率最高,红霉素菌渣的厌氧发酵处理是可行的。此外,在发酵的10 d后,红霉素降解率达到94%以上,日相对降解率与发酵液pH相关,pH越小降解速率越大,pH越接近中性,降解越缓慢。同时得到其降解过程与厌氧发酵产气量无明显相关性。该文为红霉素菌渣安全资源化提供了基础数据。     

Recycling, reuse and energetic valuation of meat industry wastes in Extremadura (Spain)

The environmental problem caused by the effluents from the four main agrifood industries in Extremadura (W Spain) is evaluated in the present work. In particular, attention is paid to the management of wastes from slaughterhouse operations. Pollution is quantified in terms of equivalent population and biological oxygen demand, for which very high values are reported.Efforts are also focused on the search of viable technical solutions for the treatment of those residues and their energetic valuation. In this sense, anaerobic digestion techniques are proposed, not only because they lead to a drastic decrease in their pollution potential, but also because significant volumes of biogas are obtained. This biogas might be used to produce electricity to be transferred to the electrical network. This way, anaerobic digestion plants would allow depreciation within a relatively short period.In particular, an analysis of the economics of a plant for the codigestion of solid and liquid effluents from meat industry is carried out, and a payback time between 7 and 8 years was achieved.     

Anaerobic Digestion of Agricultural Solid Residues

Abstract

Agricultural residues can be converted to methane-rich gas mixture. Anaerobic biomethane production is an effective process for conversion of a broad variety of agricultural residues to methane to substitute natural gas and medium calorific value gases. Methane generating bacteria (methanogens) and other microbes that help digest dying plants in anaerobic conditions. Agricultural solid residues (ASR) represent a potential energy resource if they can be properly and biologically converted to methane.     

Global Warming Impact of Electricity Generation from Beef Cattle Manure: A Life Cycle Assessment Study

We compare calculated greenhouse gas emissions for a North American beef feedlot operation, which includes biogas production by anaerobic digestion with subsequent electricity generation (the AD case), to the emissions for a “business as usual” case, which includes both a feedlot and an equivalent amount of grid-generated electricity. Anaerobic digestion, biogas production and electricity production are the major sources of differences in emissions. Fertilizer production, crop production, manure collection and spreading, as well as the associated transport stages are also considered within the LCA system boundaries; impacts on life cycle emissions from these sources are lower. Running a feedlot and producing electricity using typical grid power plants produces 3,845 kg CO_2?eq/MWh while running a feedlot, which generates biogas to produce electricity, produces 2,965 kg CO_2?eq/MWh. This savings of 880 kg CO_2?eq/MWh arises because the net power generation in the AD case emits about 90% less life cycle GHG emissions compared to grid-average electricity. The high overall emission levels arise due to emissions associated with enteric fermentation in beef cattle as the main source of GHG emissions in both the “business as usual” and the AD cases. It contributed 57% of total emissions for the feedlot /biogas /electricity system and 44% of total emissions for the feedlot /grid electricity system.     

Binding of trinitrotoluene (TNT) to water extractable humus

Solid-state ¹⁵N NMR was applied to the aqueous extracts of a ¹³C-enriched plant slurry (Lolium perenne), anaerobically incubated with ¹⁵N₃-trinitrotoluene (TNT). Almost all ¹⁵N₃-TNT transformation products became covalently bound to the plant-derived organic material extractable with water. DCPMAS ¹⁵N ¹³C NMR revealed a three-step reaction scheme. After reduction of TNT, the aryl amines are acetylated. Subsequent alkylation of the resulting amides strengthens the incorporation of TNT-transformation products into humic material. Comparable results have been recently obtained under aerobic conditions, which indicates that this pathway is a common process during biological TNT transformation.     

回用蒸煮黑液、实现达标排放

精制棉生产时产生的蒸煮黑液中含有大量的棉超短绒、果胶、油脂、棉蜡、木糖等,色度大于2000倍,CODCr质量浓度高达6000mg/L以上,生化性差,难处理。若将蒸煮黑液预处理,高浓度回收利用,低浓度与洗涤废水混合经厌氧、好氧、混凝处理后,不但出水水质达到GB8978-1996《污水综合排放标准》一级标准,而且大大降低了投资和运行费用。     

Experimental and numerical study of biogas,methane and carbon dioxide produced by pre-treated wheat straw and pre-digested cow dung

ABSTRACT

The biogas constituting majorly CH₄ and CO₂ has been produced by Ca(OH)₂ pre-treated wheat straw with pre-digested cow dung. Some of the key thermodynamic parameters like specific heat capacity, density and heating capacity of the biogas produced have also been calculated per day as well as throughout the hydraulic retention time. The governing equations of biogas with appropriate phase and interfacial conditions describing the physics of the biogas have been derived. The control volume approach has been used to predict the total volume (ml) of biogas, CH₄ and CO₂ throughout the experiment and on the daily basis. The effects of feedstock, temperature and pressure on the production of biogas, CH₄ and CO₂ in anaerobic digestion have also been studied. The average number of molar fraction and conversion ratio of CH₄ and CO₂ are correlated with number of carbon atoms available in feedstock. Numerical calculations by using developed model and Modified Gompertz model have shown proficient agreement with the experimental observations.     

Dissolved methane in anaerobic effluent: Emission or recovery?

Various anaerobic processes have been explored for the energy-efficient treatment of municipal wastewater. However, dissolved methane in anaerobic effluent appears to be a barrier towards the energy and carbon neutrality of wastewater treatment. Although several dissolved methane recovery methods have been developed, their engineering feasibility and economic viability have not yet been assessed in a holistic manner. In this perspective, we thus intend to offer additional insights into the cost-benefit of dissolved methane recovery against its emission.