Co-treatment of fruit and vegetable waste in sludge digesters. An analysis of the relationship among bio-methane generation,process stability and digestate phytotoxicity

The co-digestion of a variable amount of fruit and vegetable waste in a waste mixed sludge digester was investigated using a pilot scale apparatus. The organic loading rate (OLR) was increased from 1.46 kg VS/m³ day to 2.8 kg VS/m³ day. The hydraulic retention time was reduced from 14 days to about 10 days. Specific bio-methane production increased from about 90 NL/kg VS to the maximum value of about 430 NL/kg VS when OLR was increased from 1.46 kg VS/m³ day to 2.1 kg VS/m³ day. A higher OLR caused an excessive reduction in the hydraulic retention time, enhancing microorganism wash out. Process stability evaluated by the total volatile fatty acids concentration (mg/l) to the alkalinity buffer capacity (eq. mg/l CaCO₃) ratio (i.e. FOS/TAC) criterion was <0.1 indicating high stability for OLR <2.46 kg VS/m³ day. For higher OLR, FOS/TAC increased rapidly. Residual phytotoxicty of the digestate evaluated by the germination index (GI) (%) was quite constant for OLR < 2.46 kg VS/m³ day, which is lower than the 60% limit, indicating an acceptable toxicity level for crops. For OLR > 2.46 kg VS/m³ day, GI decreased rapidly. This corresponding trend between FOS/TAC and GI was further investigated by the definition of the GI ratio (GIR) parameter. Comparison between GIR and FOS/TAC suggests that GI could be a suitable criterion for evaluating process stability.     

Production costs and operative margins in electric energy generation from biogas. Full-scale case studies in Italy

The purpose of this study was to observe the economic sustainability of three different biogas full scale plants, fed with different organic matrices: energy crops (EC), manure, agro-industrial (Plants B and C) and organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) (Plant A). The plants were observed for one year and total annual biomass feeding, biomass composition and biomass cost (€ Mg^?1), initial investment cost and plant electric power production were registered. The unit costs of biogas and electric energy (€ Sm^?3_biogas, € kW h^?1_EE) were differently distributed, depending on the type of feed and plant. Plant A showed high management/maintenance cost for OFMSW treatment (0.155 € Sm^?3_biogas, 45% of total cost), Plant B suffered high cost for EC supply (0.130 € Sm^?3_biogas, 49% of total cost) and Plant C showed higher impact on the total costs because of the depreciation charge (0.146 € Sm^?3_biogas, 41% of total costs). The breakeven point for the tariff of electric energy, calculated for the different cases, resulted in the range 120–170 € MW h^?1_EE, depending on fed materials and plant scale. EC had great impact on biomass supply costs and should be reduced, in favor of organic waste and residues; plant scale still heavily influences the production costs. The EU States should drive incentives in dependence of these factors, to further develop this still promising sector.     

Reorienting Systematic Conservation Assessment for Effective Conservation Planning

Abstract: Systematic conservation assessment (an information‐gathering and prioritization process used to select the spatial foci of conservation initiatives) is often considered vital to conservation‐planning efforts, yet published assessments have rarely resulted in conservation action. Conservation assessments may lead more directly to effective conservation action if they are reoriented to inform conservation decisions. Toward this goal, we evaluated the relative priority for conservation of 7 sites proposed for the first forest reserves in the Union of the Comoros, an area with high levels of endemism and rapidly changing land uses in the western Indian Ocean. Through the analysis of 30 indicator variables measured at forest sites and nearby villages, we assessed 3 prioritization criteria at each site: conservation value, threat to loss of biological diversity from human activity, and feasibility of reserve establishment. Our results indicated 2 sites, Yiméré and Hassera‐Ndrengé, were priorities for conservation action. Our approach also informed the development of an implementation strategy and enabled an evaluation of previously unexplored relations among prioritization criteria. Our experience suggests that steps taken to ensure the closer involvement of practitioners, include a broader range of social data, encourage stakeholder participation, and consider the feasibility of conservation action can improve the relevance of assessments for conservation planning, strengthen the scientific basis for conservation decisions, and result in a more realistic evaluation of conservation alternatives.     

BMP tests of source selected OFMSW to evaluate anaerobic codigestion with sewage sludge

The aim of this study is to characterize different types of source selected organic fraction of municipal solid waste (SS-OFMSW) in order to optimize the upgrade of a sewage sludge anaerobic digestion unit by codigestion. Various SS-OFMSW samples were collected from canteens, supermarkets, restaurants, households, fruit–vegetable markets and bakery shops. The substrates characterization was carried out getting traditional chemical–physical parameters, performing elemental analysis and measuring fundamental anaerobic digestion macromolecular compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and volatile fatty acids. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests were conducted at mesophilic temperature both on single substrates and in codigestion regime with different substrates mixing ratios. The maximum methane yield was observed for restaurant (675 NmlCH₄/gVS) and canteens organic wastes (571 and 645 NmlCH₄/gVS). The best codigestion BMP test has highlighted an increase of 47% in methane production respect sewage sludge digestion.     

Structure and activity of thermophilic methanogenic microbial communities exposed to quaternary ammonium sanitizer

Food processing facilities often use antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) sanitizers to maintain cleanliness. These QACs can end up in wastewaters used as feedstock for anaerobic digestion. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of QAC contamination on biogas production and structure of microbial communities in thermophilic digester sludge. Methane production and biogas quality data were analyzed in batch anaerobic digesters containing QAC at 0, 15, 50, 100 and 150 mg/L. Increasing sanitizer concentration in the bioreactors negatively impacted methane production rate and biogas quality. Microbial community composition data was obtained through 16S rRNA gene sequencing from the QAC-contaminated sludges. Sequencing data showed no significant restructuring of the bacterial communities. However, significant restructuring was observed within the archaeal communities as QAC concentration increased. Further studies to confirm these effects on a larger scale and with a longer retention time are necessary.     

Effects of free ammonia on volatile fatty acid accumulation and process performance in the anaerobic digestion of two typical bio-wastes

The effect of free ammonia on volatile fatty acid(VFA)accumulation and process instability was studied using a lab-scale anaerobic digester fed by two typical bio-wastes:fruit and vegetable waste(FVW)and food waste(FW)at 35°C with an organic loading rate(OLR)of 3.0 kg VS/(m~3·day). The inhibitory effects of free ammonia on methanogenesis were observed due to the low C/N ratio of each substrate(15.6 and 17.2,respectively). A high concentration of free ammonia inhibited methanogenesis resulting in the accumulation of VFAs and a low methane yield. In the inhibited state,acetate accumulated more quickly than propionate and was the main type of accumulated VFA. The co-accumulation of ammonia and VFAs led to an "inhibited steady state" and the ammonia was the main inhibitory substance that triggered the process perturbation. By statistical significance test and VFA fluctuation ratio analysis,the free ammonia inhibition threshold was identified as 45 mg/L. Moreover,propionate,iso-butyrate and valerate were determined to be the three most sensitive VFA parameters that were subject to ammonia inhibition.     

厌氧氨氧化工艺脱氮及其污泥形态的研究

为研究厌氧氨氧化工艺对高浓度含氮废水的脱氮性能,在以聚乙烯海绵作为填料的上流式厌氧固定床反应器中利用人工配置高浓度含氮废水进行了实验研究.实验中通过添加充足无机碳源,实现了厌氧氨氧化反应器在总氮浓度900～1 210 mg/L长期稳定的运行,脱氮效率在80％以上,最高氮负荷为5.9 kg/m3·d.结果表明:充足的无机碳源在一定程度上可有效地降低高浓度亚硝氮对厌氧氨氧化菌的抑制作用.通过对污泥性状的研究,明确寻找出污泥上浮的原因所在.通过Stover-Kincannon模型确定系统动力学参数KB和Umax分别为30.2 g/L·d和2L2g/L·d,这将有助于对该厌氧氨氧化系统各控制条件的有效调节和准确设定,也为日后应用于实际工程中提供重要的理论依据.     

制浆造纸工业废水达标可行性研究

2008年6月颁布的《制浆造纸工业水污染物排放标准》(GB 3544-2008)与原标准(GB 3544-2001)相比,增加了控制排放的污染物项目,污染物排放控制要求也大幅提高,传统的废水二级生化处理工艺已不能满足新标准要求。文章通过梳理和分析调研及现场监测的资料和数据,提出目前制浆造纸企业通过有效的技术改造和升级,增加废水三级深度处理流程,在加强管理的情况下可以实现废水稳定达标排放。但不可避免会增加企业建设和运营成本,大中型制浆造纸企业尚可接受,对小型企业的冲击则相对较大。同时提出目前制浆造纸企业废水处理仍存在一些技术和管理方面的问题,尚需通过制定技术规范、强化环境监管、深入开展相关基础研究等多方面对策,优化制浆造纸行业结构调整,确保行业污染物减排。     

崇明东滩夏季沉积物厌氧氨氧化菌群落结构与空间分布特征

为探索长江口崇明东滩表层沉积物中是否存在厌氧氨氧化菌以及厌氧氨氧化菌的群落结构与空间分布特征,以崇明东滩高、中、低潮滩夏季表层沉积物中总DNA为模板,PCR扩增沉积物样品中厌氧氨氧化菌特异性16S rDNA片段,通过克隆、测序,构建相应基因文库,将文库中有效克隆序列分别提交到GenBank中进行相似序列搜索,并利用MEGA5绘制系统发育树.分析结果发现,克隆序列CM-L-7和CM-L-18与已发现厌氧氨氧化菌Candidatus"Scalindua sp."同源性达98%,CM-L-13与Candidatus"Scalindua wagneri"同源性达94%,CM-M-6与Candidatus"Kuenenia sp."同源性达94%,CM-M-22与Anaerobicammonium-oxidizing planctomycete JMK-1的同源性达95%,CM-H-15与Candidatus"Kuenenia stuttgartiensis"的同源性达94%.表明,崇明东滩高、中、低潮滩表层沉积物中均存在厌氧氨氧化菌,但所属菌属不同,低潮滩以Candidatus"Scalindua"为主,中、高潮滩以Candidatus"Kuenenia"为主.相比之下,中潮滩厌氧氨氧化菌群落结构较为复杂.部分克隆序列与已发现厌氧氨氧化菌存在较大进化距离,表明崇明东滩可能还存在其他具有潜在厌氧氨氧化功能的细菌.     

Biogas production from pistachio (Pistaciavera L.) de-hulling waste

Pistachio processing wastes create significant waste management problems unless properly managed. However, there are not well-established methods to manage the waste generated during the processing of pistachios. Anaerobic digestion can be an attractive option not only for the management of pistachio processing wastes but also producing renewable energy in the form of biogas. This study investigated anaerobic digestibility and biogas production potential of pistachio de-hulling waste from wet de-hulling process. Best to our knowledge, this is the first report on biogas production from pistachio de-hulling waste. The results indicated that (1) anaerobic digestion of pistachio de-hulling wastewater, solid waste, and their mixtures in different ratios is possible with varying levels of performance; (2) 1 L of de-hulling wastewater (chemical oxygen demand concentration of 30 g/L) produced 0.7 L of methane; (3) 1 L of de-hulling wastewater and 20 g of pistachio de-hulling solid waste produced 1.25 L of methane; and (4) 1 g of de-hulling solid waste produced 62.6 mL of methane (or 134 mL of biogas).