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Development of a Primary Sewage Sludge Pretreatment Strategy Using a Combined Alkaline–Ultrasound Pretreatment for Enhancing Microbial Electrolysis Cell Performance

Author

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  • Hwijin Seo

    (Department of Energy Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea)

  • Anna Joicy

    (Department of Energy Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea)

  • Myoung Eun Lee

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea)

  • Chaeyoung Rhee

    (Department of Energy Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea)

  • Seung Gu Shin

    (Department of Energy Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea)

  • Si-Kyung Cho

    (Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, 32 Dongguk-ro, Goyang 10326, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea)

  • Yongtae Ahn

    (Department of Energy Engineering, Future Convergence Technology Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Gyeongnam, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Ultrasound and combined alkaline–ultrasound pretreatment (AUP) strategies were examined for primary sewage sludge (SS) disintegration and were utilized to evaluate the degree of solubilization (DS). Further, the pretreated primary SS was operated in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) to maximize methane production and thereby improve the reactor performance. The highest DS of 67.2% of primary SS was recorded with the AUP. MEC reactors operated with the AUP showed the highest methane production (240 ± 6.4 mL g VS in −1 ). VS (61.1%) and COD (72.2%) removal in the MEC ALK-US showed the best organic matter removal efficiency. In the modified Gompertz analysis, the substrate with the highest degree of solubilization (AUP) had the shortest lag phase (0.2 ± 0.1 d). This implies that forced hydrolysis via pretreatment could enhance biodegradability, thereby making it easy for microorganisms to consume and leading to improved MEC performances. Microbial analysis implicitly demonstrated that pretreatment expedited the growth of hydrolytic bacteria ( Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes ), and a syntrophic interaction with electroactive microorganisms ( Smithella ) and hydrogenotrophic methanogens ( Methanoculleus ) was enriched in the MECs with AUP sludge. This suggests that the AUP strategy could be useful to enhance anaerobic digestion performance and provide a new perspective on treating primary SS in an economical way.

Suggested Citation

  • Hwijin Seo & Anna Joicy & Myoung Eun Lee & Chaeyoung Rhee & Seung Gu Shin & Si-Kyung Cho & Yongtae Ahn, 2023. "Development of a Primary Sewage Sludge Pretreatment Strategy Using a Combined Alkaline–Ultrasound Pretreatment for Enhancing Microbial Electrolysis Cell Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:10:p:3986-:d:1142762
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ariunbaatar, Javkhlan & Panico, Antonio & Esposito, Giovanni & Pirozzi, Francesco & Lens, Piet N.L., 2014. "Pretreatment methods to enhance anaerobic digestion of organic solid waste," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 143-156.
    2. Zhen, Guangyin & Lu, Xueqin & Kato, Hiroyuki & Zhao, Youcai & Li, Yu-You, 2017. "Overview of pretreatment strategies for enhancing sewage sludge disintegration and subsequent anaerobic digestion: Current advances, full-scale application and future perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 559-577.
    3. Zhen, Guangyin & Lu, Xueqin & Li, Yu-You & Zhao, Youcai, 2014. "Combined electrical-alkali pretreatment to increase the anaerobic hydrolysis rate of waste activated sludge during anaerobic digestion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 93-102.
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