IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v13y2020i20p5484-d431698.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Scaling-Up the Anaerobic Digestion of Pretreated Microalgal Biomass within a Water Resource Recovery Facility

Author

Listed:
  • Rubén Díez-Montero

    (GEMMA—Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, c/Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Lucas Vassalle

    (GEMMA—Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, c/Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
    Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil)

  • Fabiana Passos

    (Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil)

  • Antonio Ortiz

    (GEMMA—Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, c/Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

  • María Jesús García-Galán

    (GEMMA—Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, c/Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Joan García

    (GEMMA—Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, c/Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Ivet Ferrer

    (GEMMA—Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, c/Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment plants are low-cost alternatives for recovering nutrients from contaminated effluents through microalgal biomass, which may be subsequently processed into valuable bioproducts and bioenergy. Anaerobic digestion for biogas and biomethane production is the most straightforward and applicable technology for bioenergy recovery. However, pretreatment techniques may be needed to enhance the anaerobic biodegradability of microalgae. To date, very few full-scale systems have been put through, due to acknowledged bottlenecks such as low biomass concentration after conventional harvesting and inefficient processing into valuable products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anaerobic digestion of pretreated microalgal biomass in a demonstration-scale microalgae biorefinery, and to compare the results obtained with previous research conducted at lab-scale, in order to assess the scalability of this bioprocess. In the lab-scale experiments, real municipal wastewater was treated in high rate algal ponds (2 × 0.47 m 3 ), and harvested microalgal biomass was thickened and digested to produce biogas. It was observed how the methane yield increased by 67% after implementing a thermal pretreatment step (at 75 °C for 10 h), and therefore the very same pretreatment was applied in the demonstration-scale study. In this case, agricultural runoff was treated in semi-closed tubular photobioreactors (3 × 11.7 m 3 ), and harvested microalgal biomass was thickened and thermally pretreated before undergoing the anaerobic digestion to produce biogas. The results showed a VS removal of 70% in the reactor and a methane yield up to 0.24 L CH 4 /g VS, which were similar to the lab-scale results. Furthermore, photosynthetic biogas upgrading led to the production of biomethane, while the digestate was treated in a constructed wetland to obtain a biofertilizer. In this way, the demonstration-scale plant evidenced the feasibility of recovering resources (biomethane and biofertilizer) from agricultural runoff using microalgae-based systems coupled with anaerobic digestion of the microalgal biomass.

Suggested Citation

  • Rubén Díez-Montero & Lucas Vassalle & Fabiana Passos & Antonio Ortiz & María Jesús García-Galán & Joan García & Ivet Ferrer, 2020. "Scaling-Up the Anaerobic Digestion of Pretreated Microalgal Biomass within a Water Resource Recovery Facility," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:20:p:5484-:d:431698
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/20/5484/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/20/5484/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Solé-Bundó, Maria & Passos, Fabiana & Romero-Güiza, Maycoll S. & Ferrer, Ivet & Astals, Sergi, 2019. "Co-digestion strategies to enhance microalgae anaerobic digestion: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 471-482.
    2. Jankowska, Ewelina & Sahu, Ashish K. & Oleskowicz-Popiel, Piotr, 2017. "Biogas from microalgae: Review on microalgae's cultivation, harvesting and pretreatment for anaerobic digestion," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 692-709.
    3. Francisco G. Acien-Fernandez & Jose M. Fernandez-Sevilla & Emilio Molina Grima, 2017. "Microalgae: The Basis of Mankind Sustainability," Chapters, in: Bernardo Llamas & Felipe Luis Mazadiego & Maria Dolores Storch De Gracia (ed.), Case Study of Innovative Projects - Successful Real Cases, IntechOpen.
    4. Zabed, Hossain M. & Akter, Suely & Yun, Junhua & Zhang, Guoyan & Zhang, Yufei & Qi, Xianghui, 2020. "Biogas from microalgae: Technologies, challenges and opportunities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    5. Ehimen, E.A. & Holm-Nielsen, J.-B. & Poulsen, M. & Boelsmand, J.E., 2013. "Influence of different pre-treatment routes on the anaerobic digestion of a filamentous algae," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 476-480.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ana F. Esteves & Eva M. Salgado & José C. M. Pires, 2022. "Recent Advances in Microalgal Biorefineries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-4, August.

    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. Siqueira, J.C. & Braga, M.Q. & Ázara, M.S. & Garcia, K.J. & Alencar, S.N.M. & Ramos, T.S. & Siniscalchi, L.A.B. & Assemany, P.P. & Ensinas, A.V., 2022. "Recovery of vinasse with combined microalgae cultivation in a conceptual energy-efficient industrial plant: Analysis of related process considerations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    2. Hussain, Fida & Shah, Syed Z. & Ahmad, Habib & Abubshait, Samar A. & Abubshait, Haya A. & Laref, A. & Manikandan, A. & Kusuma, Heri S. & Iqbal, Munawar, 2021. "Microalgae an ecofriendly and sustainable wastewater treatment option: Biomass application in biofuel and bio-fertilizer production. A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    3. Kiehbadroudinezhad, Mohammadali & Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, Homa & Pan, Junting & Peng, Wanxi & Wang, Yajing & Aghbashlo, Mortaza & Tabatabaei, Meisam, 2023. "The potential of aquatic weed as a resource for sustainable bioenergy sources and bioproducts production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).
    4. Prajapati, Sanjeev Kumar & Malik, Anushree & Vijay, Virendra Kumar, 2014. "Comparative evaluation of biomass production and bioenergy generation potential of Chlorella spp. through anaerobic digestion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 790-797.
    5. Manthos, Georgios & Tsigkou, Konstantina & Koutra, Eleni & Mingou, Lamprini & Kornaros, Michael, 2024. "Exploring the impact of microalgal fatty acid content on anaerobic digestion and methane production: An experimental and mathematical modeling study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    6. Yanara Alessandra Santana Moura & Daniela de Araújo Viana-Marques & Ana Lúcia Figueiredo Porto & Raquel Pedrosa Bezerra & Attilio Converti, 2020. "Pigments Production, Growth Kinetics, and Bioenergetic Patterns in Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyta) in Response to Different Culture Media," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-19, October.
    7. Bai, Xue & Lant, Paul A. & Jensen, Paul D. & Astals, Sergi & Pratt, Steven, 2016. "Enhanced methane production from algal digestion using free nitrous acid pre-treatment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 383-390.
    8. Hollas, C.E. & Bolsan, A.C. & Chini, A. & Venturin, B. & Bonassa, G. & Cândido, D. & Antes, F.G. & Steinmetz, R.L.R. & Prado, N.V. & Kunz, A., 2021. "Effects of swine manure storage time on solid-liquid separation and biogas production: A life-cycle assessment approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    9. Kumar, Kanhaiya & Ghosh, Supratim & Angelidaki, Irini & Holdt, Susan L. & Karakashev, Dimitar B. & Morales, Merlin Alvarado & Das, Debabrata, 2016. "Recent developments on biofuels production from microalgae and macroalgae," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 235-249.
    10. Zabed, Hossain M. & Akter, Suely & Yun, Junhua & Zhang, Guoyan & Zhang, Yufei & Qi, Xianghui, 2020. "Biogas from microalgae: Technologies, challenges and opportunities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    11. Pascual, Celia & Cantera, Sara & Muñoz, Raúl & Lebrero, Raquel, 2021. "Siloxanes removal in a two-phase partitioning biotrickling filter: Influence of the EBRT and the organic phase," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 52-60.
    12. Yang, Qiulian & Li, Haitao & Wang, Dong & Zhang, Xiaochun & Guo, Xiangqian & Pu, Shaochen & Guo, Ruixin & Chen, Jianqiu, 2020. "Utilization of chemical wastewater for CO2 emission reduction: Purified terephthalic acid (PTA) wastewater-mediated culture of microalgae for CO2 bio-capture," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    13. Xiaoliang Luo & Bincheng Zhao & Mingguo Peng & Rongyan Shen & Linqiang Mao & Wenyi Zhang, 2022. "Effects of Inorganic Passivators on Gas Production and Heavy Metal Passivation Performance during Anaerobic Digestion of Pig Manure and Corn Straw," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, October.
    14. Sher, Farooq & Smječanin, Narcisa & Hrnjić, Harun & Bakunić, Emir & Sulejmanović, Jasmina, 2024. "Prospects of renewable energy potentials and development in Bosnia and Herzegovina – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PA).
    15. Kumar, B. Ramesh & Mathimani, Thangavel & Sudhakar, M.P. & Rajendran, Karthik & Nizami, Abdul-Sattar & Brindhadevi, Kathirvel & Pugazhendhi, Arivalagan, 2021. "A state of the art review on the cultivation of algae for energy and other valuable products: Application, challenges, and opportunities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    16. Igor Hudák & Pavel Skryja & Jiří Bojanovský & Zdeněk Jegla & Martin Krňávek, 2021. "The Effect of Inert Fuel Compounds on Flame Characteristics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    17. Wang, Honglin & Liu, Yanrong & Laaksonen, Aatto & Krook-Riekkola, Anna & Yang, Zhuhong & Lu, Xiaohua & Ji, Xiaoyan, 2020. "Carbon recycling – An immense resource and key to a smart climate engineering: A survey of technologies, cost and impurity impact," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    18. Amit Kumar Sharma & Pradeepta Kumar Sahoo & Mainak Mukherjee & Alok Patel, 2022. "Assessment of Sustainable Biogas Production from Co-Digestion of Jatropha De-Oiled Cake and Cattle Dung Using Floating Drum Type Digester under Psychrophilic and Mesophilic Conditions," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-13, June.
    19. Ajeej, Amritha & Thanikal, Joseph V & Narayanan, C M & Senthil Kumar, R., 2015. "An overview of bio augmentation of methane by anaerobic co-digestion of municipal sludge along with microalgae and waste paper," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 270-276.
    20. Chowdhury, Raja & Freire, Fausto, 2015. "Bioenergy production from algae using dairy manure as a nutrient source: Life cycle energy and greenhouse gas emission analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 1112-1121.

    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:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:20:p:5484-:d:431698. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.