Influence of Adding Conductive Materials and Integrating Bio Electrochemical Systems on the Efficiency of Anaerobic Digestion
[EN] This study explores the impact of incorporating conductive materials and bioelectrochemical systems (BES) on the efficiency of anaerobic digestion (AD) of sewage sludge. The research consists of two phases: biodegradability tests using 3D-printed polylactic acid-based conductive fillers (PLA/Ca...
| Autores: | , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2024 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad de León |
| Repositorio: | BULERIA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de León |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:buleria.unileon.es:10612/23690 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/143 https://hdl.handle.net/10612/23690 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Energía Ingeniería química Anaerobic digestion Bioelectrochemical systems Methane production Polymeric fillers 3308.10 Tecnología de Aguas Residuales 3302.90 Ingeniería Bioquímica 3303.09 Operaciones Electroquímicas 3322.05 Fuentes no Convencionales de Energía |
| Sumario: | [EN] This study explores the impact of incorporating conductive materials and bioelectrochemical systems (BES) on the efficiency of anaerobic digestion (AD) of sewage sludge. The research consists of two phases: biodegradability tests using 3D-printed polylactic acid-based conductive fillers (PLA/Carbon Black and PLA/Graphene) and semi-continuous assays integrating an external BES into the AD process. Results from biodegradability tests indicate that conductive fillers enhance around 50% methane production during the start-up phase, with microbial communities adapting over time to reduce variability in methane yields. Moreover, as the experiment progressed, the methane yields of the digesters with and without fillers became equal. Semi-continuous experiments demonstrate that BES integration improves process stability and methane production by achieving a 5–10% improvement in the amount of methane in the biogas throughout the entire operation, even under high organic loads, by facilitating diverse electron transfer pathways. The challenges of BES operation highlight the need for optimized designs to ensure scalability. Microbial analyses reveal that BES application shifts methanogenic pathways, favouring acetoclastic methanogenesis. Overall, the findings underscore the potential of conductive materials and BES to improve biogas quality and production, contributing to sustainable wastewater management and renewable energy generation. |
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