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Combined Pretreatment by Ultrasound and Struvite Precipitation of Raw Substrates: A Strategy to Overcome C/N Ratio Unbalance in Nitrogen-Rich Anaerobic Co-Digestion Systems

Author

Listed:
  • Renata D’arc Coura

    (LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Ana Cristina Rodrigues

    (ProMetheus-Research Unit in Materials, Energy and Environment for Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
    CEB—Centre of Biological Engineering, Campus de Gualtar, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Joaquim Mamede Alonso

    (ProMetheus-Research Unit in Materials, Energy and Environment for Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
    CIBIO-InBIO—Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Campus de Vairão Rua Padre Armando Quintas, Universidade do Porto, 7, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal)

  • Ana Isabel Ferraz

    (ProMetheus-Research Unit in Materials, Energy and Environment for Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
    CEB—Centre of Biological Engineering, Campus de Gualtar, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Luis Miguel Brito

    (CIMO—Mountain Research Center, Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4990-706 Ponte de Lima, Portugal)

  • João Carlos Castro Abrantes

    (ProMetheus-Research Unit in Materials, Energy and Environment for Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal)

  • António Guerreiro Brito

    (LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal)

Abstract

The present study aimed to optimize the struvite chemical precipitation process in nitrogen-rich anaerobic co-digestion systems. Struvite precipitation experiments were carried out using a mixture of cattle slurry liquid fraction and sewage sludge, with and without ultrasound pretreatment. Marine salt or MgCl 2 were used as magnesium source in NH 4 + :Mg 2+ stoichiometric proportions of 1:1.5 and 1:3. Under the tested conditions, ammonium nitrogen and orthophosphate were removed from the mixed liquor with a maximum observed efficiency of 43% and 92%, respectively, when the ultrasound treatment was applied prior to struvite precipitation, using MgCl 2 as source of magnesium (NH 4 + :Mg 2+ of 1:3). The operating time was 40 min. Different pretreatments were tested prior to the biomethanization experiments, struvite precipitation, ultrasound and a combination of both pretreatments. The application of ultrasound (with an energy input of 218 kJ L −1 ) and struvite precipitation (NH 4 + :Mg 2+ of 1:3) increased the methane content in the biogas by 82% and reduced hydraulic retention time by 28%, when compared to the anaerobic co-digestion assays without pretreatment. The hydrolytic pretreatment increased the bioavailability of nitrogen by 5%, thus enhancing the removal efficiency of ammonium nitrogen by 20%. Consequently, an increase in the carbon to nitrogen ratio was observed, favoring the methanogenesis process.

Suggested Citation

  • Renata D’arc Coura & Ana Cristina Rodrigues & Joaquim Mamede Alonso & Ana Isabel Ferraz & Luis Miguel Brito & João Carlos Castro Abrantes & António Guerreiro Brito, 2021. "Combined Pretreatment by Ultrasound and Struvite Precipitation of Raw Substrates: A Strategy to Overcome C/N Ratio Unbalance in Nitrogen-Rich Anaerobic Co-Digestion Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:2175-:d:501222
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhang, Cunsheng & Su, Haijia & Baeyens, Jan & Tan, Tianwei, 2014. "Reviewing the anaerobic digestion of food waste for biogas production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 383-392.
    2. Divya, D. & Gopinath, L.R. & Merlin Christy, P., 2015. "A review on current aspects and diverse prospects for enhancing biogas production in sustainable means," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 690-699.
    3. James Elser & Elena Bennett, 2011. "A broken biogeochemical cycle," Nature, Nature, vol. 478(7367), pages 29-31, October.
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