Environmental

Engineering class
Waste (part 02)
D. Chemisana, Chr. Lamnatou

18-9-2018
 Solid waste treatment technologies
Advanced technologies:

-Anaerobic Digestion

-Gasification

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Anaerobic Digestion

with hydrolysis and single or two stage digestion
Source: http://www.anaerobic-digestion.com/html/cambi_anaerobic_digestion_proc.php

Source: http://www.wastesyn.com/tech_wg.html
 Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic Digestion (AD) = anaerobic decomposition of organic matter resulting in
partial gasification, liquefaction and mineralization
-it can be applied to: solid waste and/or wastewater sludges
-in general, it includes: waste conversion and waste stabilization (figure)

General anaerobic biological reactions

Source: Wang et al (ed.), 2009, Handbook of Environmental Engineering Vol. 6: Biosolids treatment processes, Humana press, NJ
 Anaerobic Digestion
Energy from waste
Anaerobic digestion of wet biomass waste/substrates such as:
-Sewage sludge, slurry
-Animal manure as well as agricultural residues and by-products
-Digestible organic wastes (food and agri-industries)
-Municipal waste
-Energy crops

It is a natural process in which micro-organisms break down the organic matter,

in the absence of oxygen, to produce:
-biogas (a mixture of around 60% methane and 40% carbon dioxide)
-digestate (a nitrogen-rich fertiliser)

The biogas can be:

-burned directly in a gas boiler to produce heat or
-burned in a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit to produce heat and electricity or
-cleaned to remove the carbon dioxide and other substances,
to produce biomethane  this can be injected into the national gas grid to
be used in the same way as natural gas, or used as a vehicle fuel
Source: Energy from waste including Anaerobic Digestion, Dept. of Energy and Climate Change, http://www.decc.gov.uk; Caslin B. (2009), Potential of Farm Scale AD in Ireland, Teagasc (agriculture
and food development authority in Ireland)
 Anaerobic Digestion
Organic wastes: special preparation before the digestion  adding of moisture in
order to form a slurry, adding of nutrients, etc. majority of the sludges: municipal
wastewater origin and not industrial

-solid waste; wastewater sludge: are characterized on the basis of:

-the percentage Total Solids (TS) = the amount of solid material (or dry matter)
remaining after removing moisture from a sample = important design parameter

-Volatile Solids (VS): fraction expressed as a percentage of the TS; it is the amount of
the combustible material in a sample (the remainder is ash)

End products of AD = primary methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and stable
organic residues

Benefits of AD: reduction of sludge organic content, destruction of most pathogens,

volume reduction, valuable products such as CH4, etc.

Sources: Wang et al (ed.), 2009, Handbook of Environmental Engineering Vol. 6: Biosolids treatment processes, Humana press, NJ;
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/publications/Organics/2008011.pdf
 Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic digestion: Stages
There are four key biological (acidogens, acetogens, methanogens bacteria are
involved) and chemical stages of anaerobic digestion:

1) chemical reaction of hydrolysis

-complex organic molecules are broken down into simple sugars, amino acids and fatty acids with
the addition of hydroxyl groups

2) biological process of acidogenesis

-a further breakdown by acidogens into simpler molecules, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) occurs,
producing ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide as by-products

3) biological process of acetogenesis

-the simple molecules from acidogenesis are further digested by acetogens to produce carbon
dioxide, hydrogen and mainly acetic acid

4) biological process of methanogenesis

-methane, carbon dioxide and water are produced by methanogens

A simplified generic chemical equation of the overall process: C6H12O6 → 3CO2 + 3CH4
Source: http://www.bioenergywiki.net/Anaerobic_digestion#Stages_of_anaerobic_digestion
 Anaerobic Digestion

biochemical
conversion
pathways

Major pathways of
methane formation

Source: http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare
/dsweb/Get/Document-6278/BAE-1747web.pdf Source: http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/publications/Organics/2008011.pdf
 Anaerobic Digestion

Schematic representation of anaerobic methane generation from complex organic substances

showing scanning electron micrographs of individual microorganisms that are involved

Source: Anaerobic Digestion Process, Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council, http://www.wtert.eu
 Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic digestion: nutritional needs, etc.
• Attention to the nutritional needs of the bacteria degrading the waste
substrates. The most important nutrients for bacteria are carbon and
nitrogen, but these two elements must be provided in the proper ratio.
Otherwise, ammonia can build up to levels that can inhibit the
microorganisms:
– the appropriate C/N ratio for organic MSW may be different from that for other
feedstocks such as manure or wastewater sludge

• In general, the optimal conditions for anaerobic digestion of organic matter

are near-neutral pH, constant temperature (thermophilic or mesophilic),
relatively consistent feeding rate, C/N ratio  20:1 to 30:1

• If solid concentration > 40% TS  water should be added because

reduced contact area available to the AD microorganisms means process
inhibition

Source: http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/publications/Organics/2008011.pdf; http://www.eere.energy.gov/basics/renewable_energy/anaerobic_digestion.html

 Anaerobic Digestion
Products of Anaerobic Digestion:
Biogas
-it is biologically generated, replaces fossil fuels and it can be produced from organic
wastes

-biogas consists mostly of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and a mix of trace gases
including nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, etc. 
usually CH4 ≈ 60%, CO2 ≈ 40% (methane is odorless, colorless and the major component of
the natural gas)

-biogas can be burned in its natural form many applications and if cleaned it can be put
into the natural gas grid: used for lighting, heating, cooking, etc.
-biogas composed of 65% methane yields 5857 kcal/m3

-the quality of the biogas produced affects its final usefulness. The main concern = the
presence of hydrogen sulphide (a metabolic by-product of sulphur-reducing bacteria in the
digester)  hydrogen sulphide can rapidly corrode the gas-handling and electricity
generating equipment in the plant
Sources: http://www.bioenergywiki.net/Biogas; http://www.waste.nl/content/download/472/3779/file/WB89-InfoSheet(Anaerobic%20Digestion).pdf; http://www.waste.nl/page/248;
http://www.eere.energy.gov/basics/renewable_energy/anaerobic_digestion.html
 Anaerobic Digestion
Products of Anaerobic Digestion:
Digestate
Fibrous; acidogenic digestate
-stable organic material comprised largely of lignin and chitin, but also of a variety of mineral
components in a matrix of dead bacterial cells; it can be used as compost or to make low grade
building products such as fibreboard

Liquor; methanogenic digestate

-liquid (methanogenic digestate); rich in nutrients and it can be used as fertiliser depending on the
quality of the material being digested
-levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) should be assessed. This will be dependent upon the
quality of the original feedstock. In the case of most clean and source-separated biodegradable
waste streams the levels of PTEs will be low. On the contrary, in the case of wastes originating
from industry the levels of PTEs may be higher and will need to be taken into consideration when
determining a suitable end use for the material

Wastewater
-from the moisture content of the original waste that was treated but also includes water produced
during the microbial reactions in the digestion systems
-contains high BOD, COD  requires treatment before released into water courses or sewers

Source: http://www.bioenergywiki.net/Biogas
Anaerobic Digestion

An anaerobic
digestion plant

Source: Anaerobic Digestion http://www20.gencat.cat

 Anaerobic Digestion
The processes which
are carried out at an
anaerobic digestion plant

Source: Anaerobic Digestion http://www20.gencat.cat

 Anaerobic Digestion
Configurations of Anaerobic Digestion:
Batch and continuous loading
-batch = the simplest form  biomass added to the reactor at the beginning and sealed
for the duration of the process; suffer from odour
-continuous = the common type  organic matter is constantly added or added in
stages to the reactor; the end products are constantly or periodically removed 
constant biogas production

One-stage and multi-stage digestion tanks

-single stage = all of the biological reactions occur within a single sealed reactor 
simple to design, build and operate, lower cost but less control

-two-stage or multi-stage = different digestion vessels  max control over the bacterial
communities  hydrolysis, acetogenesis, acidogenesis 1st reaction vessel  organic
material is then heated to the required operational temperature (either mesophilic or
thermophilic) prior to being pumped into a methanogenic reactor  higher loading rates but
additional reactors and handling systems are required

In Europe ≈ 90% of the installed AD capacity = single-stage systems; 10% two-stage

Source: http://www.bioenergywiki.net/Anaerobic; http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-6278/BAE-1747web.pdf;
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/publications/Organics/2008011.pdf
 Anaerobic Digestion
Configurations of Anaerobic Digestion:
Mesophilic and thermophilic operational temperatures
Methanogens bacteria thrive in two temperature ranges:
Thermophyllic = fast growing, reproduction time: 10-15 days, they operate in a narrow band of
temperature centered on 55oC  increased heat energy requirements
Mesophyllic = slower growing, reproduction time up to 30 days, they tolerate a wider range of
temperatures; 35oC is optimal but they can tolerate much lower temperatures  lower energy
requirements
In certain European countries, such as Spain, the anaerobic mesophilic digestion is the most
broadly extended option

High-solids (also called dry systems) and low-solids (wet systems)

-feedstock is typically diluted with water to achieve the desirable solids
-prepared feedstock stream less than 15% TS = wet; TS more than 15-20% = dry
-dry systems = prevalent in Europe: 60% of the single-stage digester capacity
-High solids  thick slurry  more energy input to move and process the feedstock  lower land
requirement due to the lower volumes associated with the moisture
-Low solids  transport material using pumps; lower energy input; require larger amount of land
due to the increase volumes. Βenefits: liquid environment  circulation  contact between the
bacteria and their food

Sources: http://www.bioenergywiki.net/Anaerobic; http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-6278/BAE-1747web.pdf;

http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/publications/Organics/2008011.pdf; http://www.scitopics.com/ANAEROBIC_DIGESTION_OR_BIOMETHANIZATION_DRY_AND_THERMOPHILIC_CONDITIONS.html
Anaerobic Digestion

A typical anaerobic
digester

Source: http://www.renewable-energy.uk.net/biogas/definition_digestor.htm
 Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic digestion: several issues
Residence time  varies with the amount and type of feed material, the configuration of the
digestion system and whether is one-stage or two-stage
-single-stage thermophilic digestion ≈14 days (relatively fast)

Nutrient requirements  important: nitrogen, phosphorus  sufficient in municipal wastewaters and

sludges but may not be sufficient in industrial wastes

Biogas refinement
-Hydrogen sulphide = toxic product of the anaerobic decomposition of sulphates contained within
the input feedstock. This hydrogen sulphide is released as a trace component of the biogas. If the
levels of hydrogen sulphide in the gas are high, gas scrubbing and cleaning equipment will be
needed to process the biogas

Digestate maturation
-elements such as lignin cannot be broken down by the anaerobic microorganisms. Also the
digestate may contain ammonia that is phytotoxic and will hamper the growth of plants if it is used
as a soil improving material  maturation or composting stage is needed after digestion

Source: http://www.bioenergywiki.net/Anaerobic
 Anaerobic Digestion
One-stage, wet, self-mixing digester

The BIMA digester

designed by Entec Biogas
GmbH
(adapted from a presentation by V. V. N. Kishore for the
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, New Delhi,
India, November 2006)

Source: http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/publications/Organics/2008011.pdf
 Anaerobic Digestion
Gas production for several feedstocks

Source: Caslin B. (2009), Potential of Farm Scale AD in Ireland, Teagasc (agriculture and food development authority in Ireland)
 Anaerobic Digestion
Barcelona
-Facility name: Ecoparc 2 / Montcada - Valorga Anaerobic Digestion facility
-Start up date: 2003 - 2004
-Feedstock: MSW from Barcelona (removal of all recyclable materials)

-Facility full capacity:

265000 tons / year

-Digesters: mesophilic

-Products (Valorga facility):

gas  used for electricity
production

-By-products: Compost and

recycled materials

All three Anaerobic Digesters

(Valorga Unique Technology)

Source: http://www.lacity-alternativetechnology.org/PDF/AnaerobicDigestionFacility_Spain.pdf
 Anaerobic Digestion
Example: food waste

Example: Food waste  solid compost, liquid fertilizer, biogas (  electricity), 15-20 days, 55-60oC
Source: http://richboroughenergy.co.uk/anaerobicdigestionplant.htm