Abstract

In this study two wet microalgae cultures and one dried microalgae culture were co-digested in different proportions with sewage sludge in mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. The aim was to evaluate if the co-digestion could lead to an increased efficiency of methane production compared to digestion of sewage sludge alone. The results showed that co-digestion with both wet and dried microalgae, in certain proportions, increased the biochemical methane potential (BMP) compared with digestion of sewage sludge alone in mesophilic conditions. The BMP was significantly higher than the calculated BMP in many of the mixtures. This synergetic effect was statistically significant in a mixture containing 63% (w/w VS based) undigested sewage sludge and 37% (w/w VS based) wet algae slurry, which produced 23% more methane than observed with undigested sewage sludge alone. The trend was that thermophilic co-digestion of microalgae and undigested sewage sludge did not give the same synergy. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Biogas production; Co-digestion; Microalgae; Sewage sludge

Published in

Bioresource Technology
2014, Volume: 171, pages: 203-210

SLU Authors

• Gentili, Francesco

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all


UKÄ Subject classification

Renewable Bioenergy Research
Water Engineering


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.08.069

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/61040