Enhanced Production of Biogas Using Biochar–Sulfur Composite in the Methane Fermentation Process

The methane fermentation of organic waste is one way to minimize organic waste, which accounts for 77% of the global municipal waste stream. The use of biochar as an additive for methane fermentation has been shown to increase the production potential of biogas. Sulfur waste has a potential applicat...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ewa Syguła, Michalina Gałęzowska, Andrzej Białowiec
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-06-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/13/4517
_version_ 1797442954686627840
author Ewa Syguła
Michalina Gałęzowska
Andrzej Białowiec
author_facet Ewa Syguła
Michalina Gałęzowska
Andrzej Białowiec
author_sort Ewa Syguła
collection DOAJ
description The methane fermentation of organic waste is one way to minimize organic waste, which accounts for 77% of the global municipal waste stream. The use of biochar as an additive for methane fermentation has been shown to increase the production potential of biogas. Sulfur waste has a potential application to synergistic recycling in a form of composites with other materials including biochar. A composite product in the form of a mixture of biochar and molten sulfur has been proposed. In this experiment, additions of the sulfur–biochar composite (SBC) were tested to improve the fermentation process. The biochar was produced from apple chips under the temperature of 500 °C. The ground biochar and sulfur (<1 mm particle size) were mixed in the proportion of 40% biochar and 60% sulfur and heated to 140 °C for sulfur melting. After cooling, the solidified composite was ground. The SBC was added in the dose rate of 10% by dry mass of prepared artificial kitchen waste. Wet anaerobic digestion was carried out in the batch reactors under a temperature of 37 °C for 21 days. As an inoculum, the digestate from Bio-Wat Sp. z. o. o., Świdnica, Poland, was used. The results showed that released biogas reached 672 mL × g<sub>vs</sub><sup>−1</sup>, and the yield was 4% higher than in the variant without the SBC. Kinetics study indicated that the biogas production constant rate reached 0.214 d<sup>−1</sup> and was 4.4% higher than in the variant without the SBC.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T12:49:07Z
format Article
id doaj.art-8661d3dac3974ed8ae0a564e0e25f256
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1996-1944
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T12:49:07Z
publishDate 2022-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Materials
spelling doaj.art-8661d3dac3974ed8ae0a564e0e25f2562023-11-30T22:09:19ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442022-06-011513451710.3390/ma15134517Enhanced Production of Biogas Using Biochar–Sulfur Composite in the Methane Fermentation ProcessEwa Syguła0Michalina Gałęzowska1Andrzej Białowiec2Department of Applied Bioeconomy, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 37a Chełmońskiego Str., 51-630 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Applied Bioeconomy, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 37a Chełmońskiego Str., 51-630 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Applied Bioeconomy, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 37a Chełmońskiego Str., 51-630 Wrocław, PolandThe methane fermentation of organic waste is one way to minimize organic waste, which accounts for 77% of the global municipal waste stream. The use of biochar as an additive for methane fermentation has been shown to increase the production potential of biogas. Sulfur waste has a potential application to synergistic recycling in a form of composites with other materials including biochar. A composite product in the form of a mixture of biochar and molten sulfur has been proposed. In this experiment, additions of the sulfur–biochar composite (SBC) were tested to improve the fermentation process. The biochar was produced from apple chips under the temperature of 500 °C. The ground biochar and sulfur (<1 mm particle size) were mixed in the proportion of 40% biochar and 60% sulfur and heated to 140 °C for sulfur melting. After cooling, the solidified composite was ground. The SBC was added in the dose rate of 10% by dry mass of prepared artificial kitchen waste. Wet anaerobic digestion was carried out in the batch reactors under a temperature of 37 °C for 21 days. As an inoculum, the digestate from Bio-Wat Sp. z. o. o., Świdnica, Poland, was used. The results showed that released biogas reached 672 mL × g<sub>vs</sub><sup>−1</sup>, and the yield was 4% higher than in the variant without the SBC. Kinetics study indicated that the biogas production constant rate reached 0.214 d<sup>−1</sup> and was 4.4% higher than in the variant without the SBC.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/13/4517sulfurbiogasbiocharmethane fermentation
spellingShingle Ewa Syguła
Michalina Gałęzowska
Andrzej Białowiec
Enhanced Production of Biogas Using Biochar–Sulfur Composite in the Methane Fermentation Process
Materials
sulfur
biogas
biochar
methane fermentation
title Enhanced Production of Biogas Using Biochar–Sulfur Composite in the Methane Fermentation Process
title_full Enhanced Production of Biogas Using Biochar–Sulfur Composite in the Methane Fermentation Process
title_fullStr Enhanced Production of Biogas Using Biochar–Sulfur Composite in the Methane Fermentation Process
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced Production of Biogas Using Biochar–Sulfur Composite in the Methane Fermentation Process
title_short Enhanced Production of Biogas Using Biochar–Sulfur Composite in the Methane Fermentation Process
title_sort enhanced production of biogas using biochar sulfur composite in the methane fermentation process
topic sulfur
biogas
biochar
methane fermentation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/13/4517
work_keys_str_mv AT ewasyguła enhancedproductionofbiogasusingbiocharsulfurcompositeinthemethanefermentationprocess
AT michalinagałezowska enhancedproductionofbiogasusingbiocharsulfurcompositeinthemethanefermentationprocess
AT andrzejbiałowiec enhancedproductionofbiogasusingbiocharsulfurcompositeinthemethanefermentationprocess