enhanced anaerobic digestion of food waste by thermal and ozonation pretreatment methods

151 Pages·2015·20.73 MB·English

Introduction
i

Joint PhD degree in Environmental Technology

Docteur de l’Université Paris-Est
Spécialité : Science et Technique de l’Environnement

Dottore di Ricerca in Tecnologie Ambientali

Degree of Doctor in Environmental Technology

Thèse – Tesi di Dottorato – PhD thesis

Javkhlan Ariunbaatar

Methods to enhance anaerobic digestion of food waste

To be defended December 17th, 2014

In front of the PhD committee

Prof. Vincenzo Belgiorno Reviewer
Prof. Robin Gerlach Reviewer
Prof. Giovanni Esposito Promoter
Prof. Dr. Ir. Piet N.L. Lens Co-promoter
Prof. Stéphanie Rossano Co-promoter
Prof. Francesco Pirozzi Co-supervisor
Dr. Antonio Panico Co-supervisor
Dr. Eric Van Hullebusch Examiner

Erasmus
 Joint
 doctorate
 programme
 in
 Environmental
 Technology
 for
 Contaminated
 Solids,
 Soils
 and

3

Sediments
 (ETeCoS )
Thesis committee

Thesis promoter

Dr. G. Esposito, PhD, MSc
Associate Professor of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering
University of Cassino and Southern Lazio
Cassino, Italy

Thesis co-promoters

Prof. dr. ir. P. N.L. Lens
Professor of Biotechnology
UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education,
Delft, The Netherlands

Prof. F. Pirozzi, PhD
Professor of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering
University of Naples Federico II,
Naples, Italy

Prof. D.H. Yeh, PhD
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of South Florida
Tampa, USA

Dr. A Panico, PhD
Researcher in Environmental Engineering,
Telematic University of PEGASO,
Naples, Italy

Other members

Prof. V. Belgiorno, PhD
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy

Dr. R. Gerlach, PhD
Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Montana State University, Bozeman, USA

Dr. E. Van Hullebusch, PhD
Associate Professor of Biogeochemistry
University of Paris-Est, Institut Francilien des Sciences Appliqueées
Champs sur Marne, France

This research was conducted under the auspices of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate
Environmental Technologies for Contaminated Solids, Soils and Sediments (ETECOS3).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to thank the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctoral Program ETeCOS3
(Environmental Technologies for Contaminated Solids, Soils and Sediments) under the EU
grant agreement FPA n° 2010-0009 for giving me this unique opportunity to conduct my
research in four different universities in three different countries. Embarking on this fantastic
journey has broadened my horizons and deepened my knowledge.

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my thesis promoter, Prof. Giovanni
Esposito and co-promoter Prof. Piet N.L. Lens for being tremendous mentors. Their
thoughtful attitude and substance of a genius have made me grow professionally as well as
personally. Also I would like to thank my co-supervisors, Prof. Francesco Pirozzi, Dr. Daniel
H. Yeh and Dr. Antonio Panico for their inestimable and motivating guidance throughout this
research.

Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge with great appreciation the crucial roles of the lab
technicians, colleagues and fellow PhD candidates, who helped me to accomplish my tasks.
The interesting and inspiring discussions both in group meetings and social environments that
I enjoyed with them made a great effect on me and my research.

Living abroad for a long time and acclimating at a new university and city every few months
has been challenging. I would like to explicit my sincere gratitude to all my friends and the
locals at each of my destination cities (Cassino and Naples in Italy, Delft in the Netherlands,
Tampa in Florida, USA). Their warm welcome, kind support and understanding nature kept
me motivated, focused and provided me the hospitable environment to complete this
research.

Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends in Mongolia, who supported with
guidance, encouraged with enthusiasm and made me who I am today. Nothing would have
been possible without their care and love.

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CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 2
1.1 PROBLEM DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................... 2

1.2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND STRUCTURE OF THESIS .......................................................... 3

1.3 REFERENCE ........................................................................................................................ 6

2 PRETREATMENT METHODS TO ENHANCE ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF

ORGANIC SOLID WASTE ........................................................................................... 8
2.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 8

2.2 MECHANICAL PRETREATMENT ........................................................................................... 9

2.2.1 Process description and mode of action .................................................................... 9

2.2.2 Mechanical pretreatment of OFMSW ....................................................................... 9

2.2.3 Mechanical pretreatment of miscellaneous OSW ................................................... 10

2.3 THERMAL PRETREATMENT ............................................................................................... 12

2.3.1 Process description and mode of action .................................................................. 12

2.3.2 Thermal pretreatment at lower temperatures (<110 °C) ........................................ 12

2.3.3 Thermal pretreatment at higher temperature (>110 °C) ........................................ 13

2.4 CHEMICAL PRETREATMENT ............................................................................................. 13

2.4.1 Process description and mode of action .................................................................. 13

2.4.2 Alkali pretreatment .................................................................................................. 13

2.4.3 Acid pretreatment .................................................................................................... 14

2.4.4 Effects of accompanying cations present in the acid/alkaline reagents .................. 14

2.4.5 Ozonation ................................................................................................................ 14

2.4.6 Chemical pretreatments of OSW ............................................................................. 15

2.5 BIOLOGICAL PRETREATMENT ........................................................................................... 15

2.5.1 Conventional biological pretreatment ..................................................................... 15

2.5.2 Two-stage AD .......................................................................................................... 16

2.5.3 Temperature phased anaerobic digestion (TPAD) ................................................. 16

2.5.4 Biohythane production ............................................................................................ 17

2.6 COMBINATION OF VARIOUS PRETREATMENTS .................................................................. 17

2.6.1 Thermo-chemical pretreatment ............................................................................... 17

2.6.2 Thermo-mechanical pretreatment ........................................................................... 18

2.6.3 Various pretreatments combined with a two-stage AD ........................................... 18

2.7 COMPARISON OF PRETREATMENT METHODS TO ENHANCE ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF

OFMSW ............................................................................................................................... 18
2.8 FEASIBILITY OF A FULL SCALE APPLICATION .................................................................... 24

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2.9 ENERGY BALANCE ........................................................................................................... 27
2.10 ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY ................................................................................................. 27

2.11 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF PRETREATMENT METHODS ........... 28

2.12 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 29

2.13 REFERENCE .................................................................................................................... 29

3 ENHANCED ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF FOOD WASTE BY THERMAL AND

OZONATION PRETREATMENT METHODS ........................................................ 40
3.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 40

3.2 MATERIALS AND METHODS .............................................................................................. 41

3.2.1 Substrate and inoculum ........................................................................................... 41

3.2.2 Pretreatment of FW ................................................................................................. 42

3.2.3 Biomethane potential test ........................................................................................ 42

3.2.4 Analytical methods .................................................................................................. 43

3.2.5 Net energy production ............................................................................................. 43

3.3 RESULTS .......................................................................................................................... 44

3.3.1 Characteristics of substrate and inoculum .............................................................. 44

3.3.2 Cumulative biomethane production ........................................................................ 44

3.3.3 Net energy production ............................................................................................. 49

3.4 DISCUSSIONS ................................................................................................................... 51

3.4.1 Effects of pretreatment methods .............................................................................. 51

3.4.2 Net energy production ............................................................................................. 53

3.5 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................. 53

3.6 REFERENCE ...................................................................................................................... 53

4 EFFECTS OF THERMOPHILIC AND THERMAL PRETREATMENTS ON THE

MESOPHILIC ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF FOOD WASTE ........................... 57
4.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 57

4.2 MATERIALS AND METHODS ............................................................................................. 58

4.2.1 Batch experiment ..................................................................................................... 58

4.2.2 Analytical methods .................................................................................................. 59

4.2.3 Energy balance ........................................................................................................ 59

4.3 RESULTS .......................................................................................................................... 59

4.3.1 Characterization of substrate and inoculum ........................................................... 59

4.3.2 Effect of TPP on temperature and treatment time on Mes.AD ................................ 60

4.3.3 Comparison of the TPP and TP efficiencies ........................................................... 62

4.4 DISCUSSIONS ................................................................................................................... 66

4.4.1 Effects of pretreatment methods .............................................................................. 66

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4.4.2 Energy efficiency ..................................................................................................... 66
4.5 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................. 67

44..66 RREeFfEeRREeNncCeE.S.. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6677

5 TRACE ELEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF

FOOD WASTE .............................................................................................................. 71
5.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 71

5.2 MATERIALS AND METHODS .............................................................................................. 72

5.2.1 Substrate and inoculum ........................................................................................... 72

5.2.2 Biomethane potential test ........................................................................................ 72

5.2.3 Analytical Methods .................................................................................................. 72

5.3 RESULTS .......................................................................................................................... 73

5.3.1 Characterization of substrate and inoculum ........................................................... 73

5.3.2 Effect of TE concentration on AD of FW ................................................................ 73

5.3.3 Effect of Me (II) and Me (VI) on AD of FW ............................................................ 74

5.3.4 Hydrogen sulphide inhibition .................................................................................. 78

5.4 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................. 78

55..55 RREeFfEeRREeNncCeE.S.. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7799

6 BIOAUGMENTATION OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF FOOD WASTE USING

ZOO ANIMALS’ DUNG .............................................................................................. 81
6.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 81

6.2 MATERIALS AND METHODS ............................................................................................. 82

6.2.1 Substrate and inoculum ........................................................................................... 82

6.2.2 Batch experiments on biomethane potential ........................................................... 82

6.2.3 Analytical Methods .................................................................................................. 83

6.3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS ............................................................................................ 84

6.3.1 Characteristics of the inoculums and substrate ...................................................... 84

6.3.2 Biomethane potential test ........................................................................................ 84

6.3.3 Bioaugmentation mechanisms ................................................................................. 86

6.4 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................. 89

66..55 RREeFfEeRREeNncCeE.S.. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8899

7 EFFECT OF AMMONIACAL NITROGEN ON ONE-STAGE AND TWO-STAGE

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF FOOD WASTE ...................................................... 91
7.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 91

7.2 MATERIALS AND METHODS .......................................................................................... 92

7.2.1 Substrate and inoculum ........................................................................................ 92

7.2.2 Batch experiments ................................................................................................ 92

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7.2.3 Semi-continuous reactors ..................................................................................... 93
7.2.4 Analytical methods ............................................................................................... 94

7.2.5 Calculation ........................................................................................................... 94

7.3 RESULTS ....................................................................................................................... 95

7.3.1 Substrate and inoculum characterization ............................................................. 95

7.3.2 Batch experiments on ammonium inhibition ........................................................ 95

7.3.3 Comparison of one-stage and two-stage reactors ................................................ 97

7.4 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................ 106

7.4.1 Anaerobic digestion of food waste ..................................................................... 106

7.4.2 Effect of TAN on buffer capacity in semi-continuous systems ............................ 106

7.4.3 Toxic effect of TAN on AD of FW ....................................................................... 106

7.5 CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................. 108

7.6 REFERENCE ................................................................................................................ 108

8 INFLUENCE OF HYDRAULIC RETENTION TIME AND ORGANIC LOADING

RATE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ANMBR TREATING FOOD WASTE .. 112
8.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 112

8.2 MATERIALS AND METHODS ........................................................................................... 113

8.2.1 Seed sludge and influent ........................................................................................ 113

8.2.2 Analytical methods ................................................................................................ 113

8.2.3 Biomethane potential test ...................................................................................... 113

8.2.4 Design and operation of AnMBR .......................................................................... 114

8.3 RESULTS ........................................................................................................................ 115

8.3.1 Seed sludge and FW characteristics ..................................................................... 115

8.3.2 Performance of AnMBR ........................................................................................ 115

8.3.3 Biogas production ................................................................................................. 121

8.3.4 COD balance ......................................................................................................... 121

8.3.5 Membrane performance ........................................................................................ 122

8.4 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 123

88..55 RREeFfeERReEnNcCeE.S.. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .112233

9 DISCUSSIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES ........................ 126

9.1 INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................................... 126

9.2 MAJOR RESEARCH FINDINGS .......................................................................................... 127

9.2.1 Batch experiments on the biomethane potential of food waste ............................. 127

9.2.2 Continuous experiments ........................................................................................ 128

9.3 FUTURE RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES ................................................................................. 130

9.4 RefeRence..........................................................................................................................131

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LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 1.1 ADVANTAGES OF AD ................................................................................................. 3
TABLE 1.2 DISADVANTAGES OF AD ............................................................................................ 3

TABLE 2.1 REVIEWS ON DIFFERENT PRETREATMENT METHODS TO ENHANCE AD OF VARIOUS

SUBSTRATES ...................................................................................................................... 11
TABLE 2.2 COMPARISON OF PRETREATMENT METHODS TO ENHANCE AD OF OFMSW ............. 20

TABLE 2.3 SUSTAINABILITY EVALUATION OF PRETREATMENT METHODS TO ENHANCE OFMSW

.......................................................................................................................................... 29
TABLE 3.1 COMPOSITION OF SYNTHETIC FW USED FOR THE EXPERIMENT ................................. 42

TABLE 3.2 CHARACTERIZATION OF FW AND INOCULUM USED IN THIS EXPERIMENT ................ 44

TABLE 3.3 COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF OZONATION PRETREATMENT ........................................ 50

TABLE 4.1 CHARACTERIZATION OF FW AND INOCULUM ........................................................... 60

TABLE 4.2 ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRETREATMENT METHODS .................................. 67

TABLE 5.1 CONCENTRATION OF TES IN THE FW AND INOCULUM .............................................. 73

TABLE 5.2: ENHANCEMENT/INHIBITION OF SBP WITH RESPECT TO THE TES CONCENTRATIONS 74

TABLE 6.1: DIETS OF THE ZOO ANIMALS .................................................................................... 82

TABLE 7.1: OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS OF R1 AND R2 ............................................................ 93

TABLE 7.2: CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBSTRATE AND INOCULUM ................................................. 95

TABLE 7.3: IC50 OF TAN AND FA ........................................................................................... 107

TABLE 8.1: BIOGAS PRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 121

TABLE 8.2: MEMBRANE PERFORMANCE .................................................................................. 123

TABLE 9.1: THE HIGHEST ENHANCEMENT OF SBP ACHIEVED WITH DIFFERENT METHODS ....... 127

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