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Producing pipeline-quality biomethane via anaerobic digestion of sludge amended with corn stover biochar with in-situ CO2 removal

Author

Listed:
  • Shen, Yanwen
  • Linville, Jessica L.
  • Urgun-Demirtas, Meltem
  • Schoene, Robin P.
  • Snyder, Seth W.

Abstract

This study presents a novel process for producing pipeline-quality biomethane by anaerobic digestion (AD) of sludge with in-situ biogas cleanup and upgrading using corn stover biochar. The biochar has high surface area (105m2/g), high ash content (45.2% dry weight) and high concentrations of potassium, calcium and magnesium (14.2% K2O, 3.9% CaO and 4.2% MgO of the ash content, respectively). The biochar-amended digesters produced near pipeline-quality biomethane (>90% CH4 and <5ppb H2S), facilitated CO2 removal by up to 86.3%, boosted average CH4 content in biogas by up to 42.4% compared to the control digester, close to fungibility of natural gas. The biochar addition enhanced the methane yield, biomethanation rate constant and maximum methane production rate by up to 7.0%, 8.1% and 27.6%, respectively. The biochar addition also increased alkalinity and mitigated ammonia inhibition, providing sustainable process stability for thermophilic sludge AD. The biochar-amended digestate is enriched with nutrients such as potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus, and therefore has great potential for soil applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Shen, Yanwen & Linville, Jessica L. & Urgun-Demirtas, Meltem & Schoene, Robin P. & Snyder, Seth W., 2015. "Producing pipeline-quality biomethane via anaerobic digestion of sludge amended with corn stover biochar with in-situ CO2 removal," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 300-309.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:158:y:2015:i:c:p:300-309
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.08.016
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shen, Yanwen & Linville, Jessica L. & Urgun-Demirtas, Meltem & Mintz, Marianne M. & Snyder, Seth W., 2015. "An overview of biogas production and utilization at full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the United States: Challenges and opportunities towards energy-neutral WWTPs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 346-362.
    2. Dominic Woolf & James E. Amonette & F. Alayne Street-Perrott & Johannes Lehmann & Stephen Joseph, 2010. "Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Johannes Lehmann, 2007. "A handful of carbon," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7141), pages 143-144, May.
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