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Quantification of methane losses from the acclimatisation of anaerobic digestion to marine salt concentrations

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  • Roberts, Keiron P.
  • Heaven, Sonia
  • Banks, Charles J.

Abstract

The research assessed losses in methane production as a result of raising digester salt concentrations to marine values, and of increasing the feedstock sulphate concentration. Acclimatisation of inoculum from a municipal wastewater biosolids digester was begun by raising the concentration of chloride salts (Na, Mg, Ca and K) to 6–9 g L−1, as initial experiments showed higher concentrations caused severe inhibition. After stable operation for four retention times salt content in the reactors and the feed was increased by 1 g L−1 every 14 days, up to 31.1 g L−1. The digesters were fed daily in semi-continuous mode and monitored for performance and stability criteria including specific methane production (SMP). SMP was 6–7% less than in controls using the same feedstock without saline addition. After steady-state conditions were achieved at high chloride salinity, magnesium chloride was partially replaced by magnesium sulphate to give a range of sulphate concentrations. Higher sulphate concentrations caused initial instability, indicated by volatile fatty acid accumulation. This subsequently reduced and stable operation was achieved at marine sulphate concentrations, but with a ∼5% loss in SMP due to interspecies substrate competition. High sulphate also affected pH, leading to gaseous H2S production proportional to the applied sulphate load.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberts, Keiron P. & Heaven, Sonia & Banks, Charles J., 2016. "Quantification of methane losses from the acclimatisation of anaerobic digestion to marine salt concentrations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 497-506.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:86:y:2016:i:c:p:497-506
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.08.045
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    Cited by:

    1. Salam, Kamoru A. & Velasquez-Orta, Sharon B. & Harvey, Adam P., 2016. "A sustainable integrated in situ transesterification of microalgae for biodiesel production and associated co-product-a review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 1179-1198.
    2. John J. Milledge & Birthe V. Nielsen & Supattra Maneein & Patricia J. Harvey, 2019. "A Brief Review of Anaerobic Digestion of Algae for Bioenergy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-22, March.

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