Influence of seed sludge and pretreatment method on hydrogen production in packed-bed anaerobic reactors

Several studies have reported on the effects of inoculums source and pretreatment on biological hydrogen production. However, there have been few studies on continuous reactors. This paper investigated the influence of different seed sludge sources and pretreatment methods on biohydrogen production in up-flow anaerobic fixed-bed reactors fed with sucrose. The following inoculum sources were included in the study: (1) anaerobic sludge from an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor used to treat poultry slaughterhouse wastewater (Sl), (2) anaerobic sludge from a UASB reactor used to treat swine wastewater (Sw) and (3) autofermentation (A). Heat (He) and acid (Ac) shock were used to increase hydrogen production and suppress hydrogen consumption. The average hydrogen yields (HY) in the experiment were 2.1 (A), 2.0 (SlHe), 2.0 (SlAc), 1.0 (Sl), 1.0 (SwAc), 0.7 (SwHe) and 0.7 (Sw) mol H₂ mol⁻¹ sucrose. Although heat shock produced the maximum HY value (SlHe), acid pretreatment (SlAc) resulted in more stable hydrogen production with the largest average value, which could be an advantage of using pH shock. The autofermentation process presented HY values similar to those produced with SlAc and SlHe, making it a suitable seed sludge for biohydrogen production because pretreatment was not required.     

Challenges in biogas production from anaerobic membrane bioreactors

Spectacular applications of anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) are emerging due to the membrane enhanced biogas production in the form of renewable bioresources. They produce similar energy derived from the world's depleting natural fossil energy sources while minimizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. During the last decade, many types of AnMBRs have been developed and applied so as to make biogas technology practical and economically viable. Referring to both conventional and advanced configurations, this review presents a comprehensive summary of AnMBRs for biogas production in recent years. The potential of biogas production from AnMBRs cannot be fully exploited, since certain constraints still remain and these cause low methane yield. This paper addresses a detailed assessment on the potential challenges that AnMBRs are encountering, with a major focus on many inhibitory substances and operational dilemmas. The aim is to provide a solid platform for advances in novel AnMBRs applications for optimized biogas production.     

Hydrogen production from soft-drink wastewater in an upflow anaerobic packed-bed reactor

The production of hydrogen from soft-drink wastewater in two upflow anaerobic packed-bed reactors was evaluated. The results show that soft-drink wastewater is a good source for hydrogen generation. Data from both reactors indicate that the reactor without medium containing macro- and micronutrients (R2) provided a higher hydrogen yield (3.5 mol H₂ mol⁻¹ of sucrose) as compared to the reactor (R1) with a nutrient-containing medium (3.3 mol H₂ mol⁻¹ of sucrose). Reactor R2 continuously produced hydrogen, whereas reactor R1 exhibited a short period of production and produced lower amounts of hydrogen. Better hydrogen production rates and percentages of biogas were also observed for reactor R2, which produced 0.4 L h⁻¹ L⁻¹ and 15.8% of H₂, compared to reactor R1, which produced 0.2 L h⁻¹ L⁻¹ and 2.6% of H₂. The difference in performance between the reactors was likely due to changes in the metabolic pathway for hydrogen production and decreases in bed porosity as a result of excessive biomass growth in reactor R1. Molecular biological analyses of samples from reactors R1 and R2 indicated the presence of several microorganisms, including Clostridium (91% similarity), Enterobacter (93% similarity) and Klebsiella (97% similarity).     

不同接种物厌氧发酵产沼气效果的比较

以水稻秸秆为原料,严格控制发酵温度(37±1 ℃)的条件下,比较了以猪粪、鱼塘污泥,猪粪和鱼塘污泥(按质量1∶1)的混合物为接种物的产沼气效果.结果表明,猪粪与鱼塘污泥混合物为接种物的平均日产气量、累积产气量和甲烷含量最高(分别为100 mL、3309 mL和54.7%),鱼塘污泥的各项指标次之(分别为99 mL、2974 mL和53.2%),猪粪的各项指标最低(91 mL、2456 mL和52.5%).以猪粪与污泥混合物为接种物的发酵料液TS、VS降低的程度最大(28.2%、21.7%),鱼塘污泥次之(19.2%、15.4%),猪粪最小(17.2%、13.9%).添加氨水的各实验组指标大于不添加氨水的各对照组.     

Cost of anaerobic digestion technology: Household biogas plants in India

An attempt towards the development of a generalized framework for analysis and evaluation of the various factors affecting the cost of the three types of biogas plants in India has been made. Four different approaches have been suggested for estimating the capital cost of biogas plants. The first cost function is based on the economies of scale in the capital cost, whereas the second cost function makes use of the fact that the ratio of the cost of a given size of plant to the cost of a reference plant remains almost constant in time. The third cost function takes into account the effect of retention time and other important factors on the capital cost, while the fourth cost function is based on the costs of constituents. An attempt to develop functional relationship for the operation and maintenance cost has also been made.     

菠萝皮厌氧发酵产沼气的研究

介绍了以菠萝皮为原料,在25℃恒温条件下,采用批量发酵工艺,进行发酵产沼气实验,实验结果表明,菠萝皮可以作为沼气发酵原料,未加碱时产沼气潜力为574.81 mL/gTS,604.30mL/gVS,甲烷含量51.34%;而加碱时产沼气潜力为568.66 mL/gTS,597.84 mL/gVS,甲烷含量52.96%。     

Designs of anaerobic digesters for producing biogas from municipal solid-waste

The production of biogas is of growing interest as fossil-fuel reserves decline. However, there exists a dearth of literature on the design considerations that would lead to process optimization in the development of anaerobic digesters aimed at creating useful commodities from the ever-abundant municipal solid-waste. Consequently, this paper provides a synthesis of the key issues and analyses concerning the design of a high-performance anaerobic digester.     

不同秸秆厌氧发酵产沼气效果的比较

以猪粪为接种物,以水稻秸秆、玉米秸秆和棉花秸秆为发酵原料,在严格控制发酵温度（37±1）℃的条件下进行厌氧发酵产沼气的研究。研究结果表明,3种秸秆的日产气量在第1天达到峰值后都出现明显的回落．在第6～7天开始逐渐上升并形成第2个产气高峰,之后逐渐下降。棉花秸秆的平均日产气量、累积产气量和甲烷含量（体积分数,下同）最高（分别为114ml,3663ml和58．2％）,玉米秸秆次之（分别为111ml,3121ml和54．6％）,水稻秸秆最低（分别为91ml,2457ml和50．2％）。添加氨水的各试验组的指标高于不添加氨水的各对照组的指标。     

Enhancing wastewater degradation and biogas production by intermittent operation of UASB reactors

The present work establishes intermittent operation of UASB reactors as a novel form of enhancing the anaerobic degradation of complex wastewaters and its conversion to usable biogas. Results show that the average methane production rate is 25% higher with the intermittent operation than with the continuous mode, meaning that it could produce 25% more electricity or heat. The methanization efficiency obtained in intermittent UASB reactors is around 20% higher than in the continuous systems, confirming a higher biological degradation of the substrates. It has been suggested that intermittent operation causes a forced adaptation of the biomass towards the degradation of complex substrates and results from morphological analyses of the biomass developed in intermittent and continuous UASB reactors showed marked differences between them. In order to gain a deeper knowledge on how microbial populations are affected by these operational parameters, a strategy involving the amplification, cloning, and analysis of the nucleotide sequences of genes encoding the 16S ribosomal RNA was undertaken and is described in this work. This strategy allowed the identification of a total of 49 different sequences. Results from the molecular characterization of the microbial populations are consistent with the higher methanization efficiency of the intermittent mode of operation.     

Nanoparticles augmentation on biogas yield from microalgal biomass anaerobic digestion

This study evaluates the influence of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) on biogas production from green microalgae Enteromorpha. The concentration of metallic NPs (Ni, Co) was 1 mg/L and oxides NPs (Fe₃O₄, MgO) was 10 mg/L. An anaerobic digestion was carried out batch-wise with working volume, operating temperature, mixing rate and hydraulic retention time as 500 ml, 37 °C, 150 rpm and 170 h, respectively. The measurements of chemical oxygen demand (COD), volatile fatty acids (VFAs), reducing sugar and biogas production were observed to monitor effectivity of nanoparticles. The results showed that NPs has moderate positive influence in biogas production until 60 h of retention time but significantly improve afterward. The maximum total biogas yield of 624 ml was achieved by Fe₃O₄ NPs whereas highest biohydrogen, 51.42% (v/v) was achieved by Ni NPs. The cumulative increase in biogas production for Fe₃O₄, Ni, Co and MgO NPs was 28%, 26%, 9% and 8%, respectively. A modified Gompertz and Logistic function model were used to determine kinetic constants of the reaction. The logistic model has the better predicting ability for microalgae anaerobic digestion.     

中国沼气产业发展的回顾与展望

文章回顾了我国沼气产业的发展;分析了在国家对沼气建设持续地投入和支持下,我国户用沼气池、各类沼气工程、沼气服务体系的建设成效以及对拉动内需的贡献;提出在新形势下,我国沼气产业应在满足"三农"需求的基础上,逐步扩大发酵原料的来源,日益拓展沼气产品的使用功能和领域,通过提升沼气的综合效益,最终实现沼气的城乡统筹。     

Optimization of biogas production by anaerobic digestion for sustainable energy development in Zimbabwe

There is increasing international interest in developing low carbon renewable energy technologies. Biomass is increasingly being utilized as an energy source throughout the world. Several modern technologies have been developed that convert biomass to bioenergy. Anaerobic digestion is a mature energy technology for converting biomass to biogas, which is a renewable primary energy source. Biogas is a robust fuel that can be used to supply heat, electricity, process steam and methanol. There are vast biomass resources in Zimbabwe that have good potential for biogas production by anaerobic digestion. However, anaerobic digestion is not being optimally used as a biomass conversion technology in the country. This paper presents an overview of biogas production in Zimbabwe and outlines technical options that can be utilized to optimize biogas production by anaerobic digestion in the country.     

预处理对秸秆废弃物沼气发酵的影响研究

研究了预处理对典型秸秆废弃物沼气发酵的影响。与豆秆和棉秆相比,木质素含量相对较低的玉米秆产气速率和沼气产率更高。碱处理缩短了产气高峰出现的时间,峰值也得到提高,这可能与预处理增加的可溶性组分的快速降解有关。经过几天的低产气期,又出现第二个小产气高峰。组分分析表明,碱处理去除大量木质素,纤维可及度得到提高,这是第二阶段产气得到加强的原因。最终,玉米秆、豆秆和棉秆的最高沼气产率分别达415,343 ml/g TS和298 ml/g TS,比未处理秸秆提高34%,54%和86%。结果表明,预处理豆秆和棉秆产气性能较好,可与玉米秆一样,作为沼气发酵的优良原料。     

Recent advances in biogas upgrading to value added products: A review

It is undeniable that oil and gas explorations are going on at a frantic pace due to excessive fossil fuel usage across the world. This has compelled us to explore isolated or even uninhabited places to meet the surging demand for oil and gas. There is no doubt that scientists and researchers worldwide are exploring more renewable energy sources to produce value-added products. In the last few years, biogas' usage as a reactant gas in the catalytic reforming process has emanated as an energy carrier to produce energy-efficient products, i.e., syngas and methanol. This review aimed to analyze the research works focusing on the biogas DR reactions and methanol production from biogas. The findings of some experimental studies have been presented in the form of graphs for important selective parameters as case studies. The overall impression from the review suggests that the performance of the reforming catalysts deteriorates regarding different operating conditions. Still, the improvement in syngas production has been reported by neglecting the effect of H₂S impurity. Furthermore, various parameters have been discussed paragraphically to evaluate the catalytic performance in biogas dry reforming reactions and a check on catalyst synthesis methods. After that, a few scattered studies have been discussed on methanol synthesis using biogas as a feedstock.     

餐厨垃圾SBMR-ASBR两相厌氧消化产气性能研究

以学校食堂餐厨垃圾为原料,考察餐厨垃圾在SBMR-ASBR反应器中产酸和产甲烷性能。结果表明:高负荷下启动酸化相有利于系统快速形成稳定的乙醇型发酵,且可以避开丙酸型发酵,在10 g/(L.d)负荷(以VS计)下,稳定状态产酸率平均达到55 000 mg/L,VFA中乙醇和乙酸分别平均稳定在27 000 mg/L和23 000mg/L,两者共占总VFA的91%;甲烷相可以稳定运行的最高负荷为5 g/(L.d)(以VS计),此时,系统整体处理能力为3.3 g/(L.d),单位容积产气率达到2.3 L/(L.d),甲烷含量在65%～70%,TS,VS去除率分别达到77%,83%。在实际工程中可以高负荷启动酸化相,有利于系统形成稳定的乙醇型发酵和高负荷运行的甲烷相。     

200t/d餐厨垃圾厌氧产沼工程调试与运行分析

文章介绍了杭州市餐厨垃圾一期处理工程各工艺单元,分析了项目运行稳定性及存在问题,以期为后续其他餐厨垃圾处理工程提供经验借鉴。项目设计处理餐厨垃圾200 t/d,以"自动分选+三相提油+高效厌氧"为主要工艺路线。预处理自动分选系统可将餐厨垃圾中的塑料、金属和织物等杂质去除,三相提油系统将沥水及有机浆料中的油脂提取纯化制成毛油,经提油后有机浆料进入高效厌氧消化系统转化产生沼气和沼渣沼液。沼气用于发电上网,厌氧出水经固液分离产生的沼渣作填埋处置,沼液则进入填埋场渗滤液处理达到《生活垃圾填埋场污染控制标准》(GB 16889-2008)排放要求,从而实现餐厨垃圾的无害化和资源化处理及利用。该项目处理餐厨垃圾200 t/d,产生沼气13 000 m~3/d,发电26 000 kW·h/d,提油系统毛油产量为5.3 t/d,油脂回收率达88%。     

干式厌氧发酵制沼气工艺方案设计及设备研究

沼液处理问题是目前沼气工程发展的主要障碍。文章从我国干式厌氧发酵研究的需要出发,设计了干式厌氧发酵制沼气工艺方案,主要包括工艺流程设计、厌氧反应系统物料平衡和热量平衡计算、主要单元工艺技术参数选择与确定等,为我国干式厌氧发酵研究提供了科学参考。     

中药药渣预处理厌氧发酵产沼气初步研究

试验研究了沼液和NaOH用于药渣堆沤预处理对发酵过程的影响,以及接种量、pH值对于产气量的影响。结果表明:药渣经过沼液堆沤预处理后即可在较短的时间内高效发酵产沼气,发酵高峰为第2¹0天,此阶段产气为总产气量的95%以上;以秸秆沼液预处理后的药渣产气量最高,为11 940 mL,原料产气率为54.4L/kg干药渣。药渣发酵过程中无需添加畜禽粪便调节碳氮比,秸秆沼液中驯化富集的利于秸秆类物质分解的微生物可大大提高药渣的降解率。NaOH预处理可显著提高药渣的产气潜力,发酵持久且总产气量高。以质量分数5%的NaOH预处理10 d,原料(干药渣)产气率达196.8 L/kg。     

Innovative microbial fuel cell for electricity production from anaerobic reactors

A submersible microbial fuel cell (SMFC) was developed by immersing an anode electrode and a cathode chamber in an anaerobic reactor. Domestic wastewater was used as the medium and the inoculum in the experiments. The SMFC could successfully generate a stable voltage of 0.428 ± 0.003 V with a fixed 470 Ω resistor from acetate. From the polarization test, the maximum power density of 204 mW m⁻² was obtained at current density of 595 mA m⁻² (external resistance = 180 Ω). The power generation showed a saturation-type relationship as a function of wastewater strength, with a maximum power density (P_max) of 218 mW m⁻² and a saturation constant (K_s) of 244 mg L⁻¹. The main limitations for achieving higher electricity production in the SMFC were identified as the high internal resistance at the electrolyte and the inefficient electron transfer at the cathode electrode. As the current increased, a large portion of voltage drop was caused by the ohmic (electrolyte) resistance of the medium present between two electrodes, although the two electrodes were closely positioned (about 3 cm distance; internal resistance = 35 ± 2 Ω). The open circuit potential (0.393 V vs. a standard hydrogen electrode) of the cathode was much smaller than the theoretical value (0.804 V). Besides, the short circuit potential of the cathode electrode decreased during the power generation in the SMFC. These results demonstrate that the SMFC could successfully generate electricity from wastewater, and has a great potential for electricity production from existing anaerobic reactors or other anaerobic environments such as sediments. The advantage of the SMFC is that no special anaerobic chamber (anode chamber) is needed, as existing anaerobic reactors can be used, where the cathode chamber and anode electrode are immersed.