IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v226y2018icp1219-1228.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Methane production through anaerobic digestion: Participation and digestion characteristics of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Wanwu
  • Khalid, Habiba
  • Zhu, Zhe
  • Zhang, Ruihong
  • Liu, Guangqing
  • Chen, Chang
  • Thorin, Eva

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant natural resource with high biomethane potential. However, complex structure of lignocellulosic biomass has hampered the efficient utilization of this bioresource. Previous studies have investigated the overall anaerobic digestion performance of lignocellulosic biomass, but the individual participation of each lignocellulosic component during anaerobic digestion remained unclear. Thus, this study investigated the methane production characteristics of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and their mixtures along with the microbial communities involved in anaerobic digestion. The results showed that the biomethane potential of cellulose was higher than that of hemicellulose; however, hemicellulose was hydrolysed more quickly than cellulose, while lignin was very difficult to be digested. The higher concentrations of acetic, n-butyric and n-valeric acids hydrolysed from the hemicellulose resulted in a lower pH and more severe inhibition on methane production than that of cellulose, and the methanogenesis gradually recovered after pH adjustment. The co-digestion of cellulose and hemicellulose increased the methane yield and biodegradability compared to mono-digestions. The addition of lignin to cellulose brought more significant decrease in the methane yield of cellulose than that of hemicellulose. Substrate-related bacteria such as Clostridium sensu stricto, Lutaonella, Cloacibacillus and Christensenella showed higher relative abundance in cellulose digestate, and sugar-fermenting bacteria such as Saccharofermentans, Petrimonas and Levilinea were more rich in the digestate of hemicellulose. Moreover, methanogenic Methanospirillum and Methanothrix likely contributed to the methane production of cellulose, while aciduric methanogens from Methanobrevibacter, Methanomassiliicoccus, Methanobacterium and Methanoculleus contributed to that of hemicellulose. This study provides a deeper understanding of the mechanism in the bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass during anaerobic digestion.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Wanwu & Khalid, Habiba & Zhu, Zhe & Zhang, Ruihong & Liu, Guangqing & Chen, Chang & Thorin, Eva, 2018. "Methane production through anaerobic digestion: Participation and digestion characteristics of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 1219-1228.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:226:y:2018:i:c:p:1219-1228
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.05.055
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261918307657
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.05.055?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hijazi, O. & Munro, S. & Zerhusen, B. & Effenberger, M., 2016. "Review of life cycle assessment for biogas production in Europe," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1291-1300.
    2. Liu, Xuyi & Zhang, Shun & Bae, Junghan, 2017. "The nexus of renewable energy-agriculture-environment in BRICS," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 489-496.
    3. Lemmer, Andreas & Merkle, Wolfgang & Baer, Katharina & Graf, Frank, 2017. "Effects of high-pressure anaerobic digestion up to 30 bar on pH-value, production kinetics and specific methane yield," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 659-667.
    4. Chandra, R. & Takeuchi, H. & Hasegawa, T., 2012. "Methane production from lignocellulosic agricultural crop wastes: A review in context to second generation of biofuel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 1462-1476.
    5. Salman, Chaudhary Awais & Schwede, Sebastian & Thorin, Eva & Yan, Jinyue, 2017. "Enhancing biomethane production by integrating pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion processes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 1074-1083.
    6. Feng, Qunjie & Lin, Yunqin, 2017. "Integrated processes of anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis for higher bioenergy recovery from lignocellulosic biomass: A brief review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1272-1287.
    7. Rahul Datta & Aditi Kelkar & Divyashri Baraniya & Ali Molaei & Amitava Moulick & Ram Swaroop Meena & Pavel Formanek, 2017. "Enzymatic Degradation of Lignin in Soil: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-18, July.
    8. Mustafa, Ahmed M. & Poulsen, Tjalfe G. & Sheng, Kuichuan, 2016. "Fungal pretreatment of rice straw with Pleurotus ostreatus and Trichoderma reesei to enhance methane production under solid-state anaerobic digestion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 661-671.
    9. Hamelin, Lorie & Naroznova, Irina & Wenzel, Henrik, 2014. "Environmental consequences of different carbon alternatives for increased manure-based biogas," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 774-782.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yazan, Devrim Murat & Fraccascia, Luca & Mes, Martijn & Zijm, Henk, 2018. "Cooperation in manure-based biogas production networks: An agent-based modeling approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 820-833.
    2. Bacenetti, Jacopo & Sala, Cesare & Fusi, Alessandra & Fiala, Marco, 2016. "Agricultural anaerobic digestion plants: What LCA studies pointed out and what can be done to make them more environmentally sustainable," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 669-686.
    3. Kim, Jung-Hun & Oh, Jeong-Ik & Tsang, Yiu Fai & Park, Young-Kwon & Lee, Jechan & Kwon, Eilhann E., 2020. "CO2-assisted catalytic pyrolysis of digestate with steel slag," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    4. Eggemann, Lea & Rau, Florian & Stolten, Detlef, 2023. "The ecological potential of manure utilisation in small-scale biogas plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    5. Gao, Mingxue & Wang, Danmeng & Wang, Hui & Wang, Xiaojiao & Feng, Yongzhong, 2019. "Biogas potential, utilization and countermeasures in agricultural provinces: A case study of biogas development in Henan Province, China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 191-200.
    6. Cheng, F. & Brewer, C.E., 2021. "Conversion of protein-rich lignocellulosic wastes to bio-energy: Review and recommendations for hydrolysis + fermentation and anaerobic digestion," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    7. Torri, Cristian & Pambieri, Giampiero & Gualandi, Chiara & Piraccini, Maurizio & Rombolà, Alessandro G. & Fabbri, Daniele, 2020. "Evaluation of the potential performance of hyphenated pyrolysis-anaerobic digestion (Py-AD) process for carbon negative fuels from woody biomass," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 1190-1199.
    8. Song, Jinghui & Wang, Ying & Zhang, Siqi & Song, Yanling & Xue, Shengrong & Liu, Le & Lvy, Xingang & Wang, Xiaojiao & Yang, Gaihe, 2021. "Coupling biochar with anaerobic digestion in a circular economy perspective: A promising way to promote sustainable energy, environment and agriculture development in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    9. Freitas, F.F. & Furtado, A.C. & Piñas, J.A.V. & Venturini, O.J. & Barros, R.M. & Lora, E.E.S., 2022. "Holistic Life Cycle Assessment of a biogas-based electricity generation plant in a pig farm considering co-digestion and an additive," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    10. Tayibi, S. & Monlau, F. & Bargaz, A. & Jimenez, R. & Barakat, A., 2021. "Synergy of anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis processes for sustainable waste management: A critical review and future perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    11. Budzianowski, Wojciech M. & Postawa, Karol, 2017. "Renewable energy from biogas with reduced carbon dioxide footprint: Implications of applying different plant configurations and operating pressures," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 852-868.
    12. Hamelin, Lorie & Møller, Henrik Bjarne & Jørgensen, Uffe, 2021. "Harnessing the full potential of biomethane towards tomorrow's bioeconomy: A national case study coupling sustainable agricultural intensification, emerging biogas technologies and energy system analy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    13. Tsapekos, P. & Kougias, P.G. & Treu, L. & Campanaro, S. & Angelidaki, I., 2017. "Process performance and comparative metagenomic analysis during co-digestion of manure and lignocellulosic biomass for biogas production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 126-135.
    14. Mariana Ferdeș & Mirela Nicoleta Dincă & Georgiana Moiceanu & Bianca Ștefania Zăbavă & Gigel Paraschiv, 2020. "Microorganisms and Enzymes Used in the Biological Pretreatment of the Substrate to Enhance Biogas Production: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-26, September.
    15. Deng, Chen & Lin, Richen & Kang, Xihui & Wu, Benteng & O’Shea, Richard & Murphy, Jerry D., 2020. "Improving gaseous biofuel yield from seaweed through a cascading circular bioenergy system integrating anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    16. Ezeilo, Uchenna R. & Wahab, Roswanira Abdul & Mahat, Naji Arafat, 2020. "Optimization studies on cellulase and xylanase production by Rhizopus oryzae UC2 using raw oil palm frond leaves as substrate under solid state fermentation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 1301-1312.
    17. Henrik B. Møller & Peter Sørensen & Jørgen E. Olesen & Søren O. Petersen & Tavs Nyord & Sven G. Sommer, 2022. "Agricultural Biogas Production—Climate and Environmental Impacts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-24, February.
    18. Hijazi, O. & Abdelsalam, E. & Samer, M. & Attia, Y.A. & Amer, B.M.A. & Amer, M.A. & Badr, M. & Bernhardt, H., 2020. "Life cycle assessment of the use of nanomaterials in biogas production from anaerobic digestion of manure," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 417-424.
    19. Usman, Muhammad & Makhdum, Muhammad Sohail Amjad, 2021. "What abates ecological footprint in BRICS-T region? Exploring the influence of renewable energy, non-renewable energy, agriculture, forest area and financial development," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 12-28.
    20. Senghor, A. & Dioh, R.M.N. & Müller, C. & Youm, I., 2017. "Cereal crops for biogas production: A review of possible impact of elevated CO2," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 548-554.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:226:y:2018:i:c:p:1219-1228. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.