Energy-Positive Disintegration of Waste Activated Sludge—Full Scale Study
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mechanical disintegration of waste activated sludge (WAS) on full scale anaerobic digestion, considering the possibility of obtaining a positive energy balance. The results showed that an increase in energy density (ε<sub>L</sub>) used in disin...
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/2/555 |
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| author | Monika Zubrowska-Sudol Katarzyna Sytek-Szmeichel Piotr Krawczyk Agnieszka Bisak |
| author_facet | Monika Zubrowska-Sudol Katarzyna Sytek-Szmeichel Piotr Krawczyk Agnieszka Bisak |
| author_sort | Monika Zubrowska-Sudol |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mechanical disintegration of waste activated sludge (WAS) on full scale anaerobic digestion, considering the possibility of obtaining a positive energy balance. The results showed that an increase in energy density (ε<sub>L</sub>) used in disintegration was accompanied by an increase in the release of organic compounds from sludge (SCOD increased from 211 ± 125 mg O<sub>2</sub>/L for ε<sub>L</sub> = 0 kJ/L to 6292 ± 2860 mgO<sub>2</sub>/L for ε<sub>L</sub> = 180 kJ/L). Some of them were volatile fatty acids. The percentage share of WAS subject to disintegration was also documented as a crucial parameter affecting the efficiency of biogas production. An increase in the value of this parameter from 25% to 100%, even at much lower ε<sub>L</sub> used in disintegration (therefore with much smaller amounts of organic compounds released from sludge flocs) resulted in an increase in biogas production. Conducting disintegration of the entire stream of WAS directed to the fermentation tank at ε<sub>L</sub> 30 kJ/L resulted in an increase in biogas production by 14.1%. Such a surplus would allow production of approximately 360 kWh/d net electricity. Mechanical disintegration of thickened WAS therefore may be an economically justifiable strategy for the intensification of anaerobic sludge stabilisation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:33:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ce1b36053bec46f89721357d71c180e8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:33:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-ce1b36053bec46f89721357d71c180e82023-11-23T13:38:10ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-01-0115255510.3390/en15020555Energy-Positive Disintegration of Waste Activated Sludge—Full Scale StudyMonika Zubrowska-Sudol0Katarzyna Sytek-Szmeichel1Piotr Krawczyk2Agnieszka Bisak3Faculty of Building Services, Hydro and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska 20, 00-653 Warsaw, PolandFaculty of Building Services, Hydro and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska 20, 00-653 Warsaw, PolandFaculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska 24, 00-655 Warsaw, PolandFaculty of Building Services, Hydro and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska 20, 00-653 Warsaw, PolandThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of mechanical disintegration of waste activated sludge (WAS) on full scale anaerobic digestion, considering the possibility of obtaining a positive energy balance. The results showed that an increase in energy density (ε<sub>L</sub>) used in disintegration was accompanied by an increase in the release of organic compounds from sludge (SCOD increased from 211 ± 125 mg O<sub>2</sub>/L for ε<sub>L</sub> = 0 kJ/L to 6292 ± 2860 mgO<sub>2</sub>/L for ε<sub>L</sub> = 180 kJ/L). Some of them were volatile fatty acids. The percentage share of WAS subject to disintegration was also documented as a crucial parameter affecting the efficiency of biogas production. An increase in the value of this parameter from 25% to 100%, even at much lower ε<sub>L</sub> used in disintegration (therefore with much smaller amounts of organic compounds released from sludge flocs) resulted in an increase in biogas production. Conducting disintegration of the entire stream of WAS directed to the fermentation tank at ε<sub>L</sub> 30 kJ/L resulted in an increase in biogas production by 14.1%. Such a surplus would allow production of approximately 360 kWh/d net electricity. Mechanical disintegration of thickened WAS therefore may be an economically justifiable strategy for the intensification of anaerobic sludge stabilisation.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/2/555anaerobic digestionmechanical disintegrationwaste activated sludgebiogas production |
| spellingShingle | Monika Zubrowska-Sudol Katarzyna Sytek-Szmeichel Piotr Krawczyk Agnieszka Bisak Energy-Positive Disintegration of Waste Activated Sludge—Full Scale Study Energies anaerobic digestion mechanical disintegration waste activated sludge biogas production |
| title | Energy-Positive Disintegration of Waste Activated Sludge—Full Scale Study |
| title_full | Energy-Positive Disintegration of Waste Activated Sludge—Full Scale Study |
| title_fullStr | Energy-Positive Disintegration of Waste Activated Sludge—Full Scale Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Energy-Positive Disintegration of Waste Activated Sludge—Full Scale Study |
| title_short | Energy-Positive Disintegration of Waste Activated Sludge—Full Scale Study |
| title_sort | energy positive disintegration of waste activated sludge full scale study |
| topic | anaerobic digestion mechanical disintegration waste activated sludge biogas production |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/2/555 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT monikazubrowskasudol energypositivedisintegrationofwasteactivatedsludgefullscalestudy AT katarzynasytekszmeichel energypositivedisintegrationofwasteactivatedsludgefullscalestudy AT piotrkrawczyk energypositivedisintegrationofwasteactivatedsludgefullscalestudy AT agnieszkabisak energypositivedisintegrationofwasteactivatedsludgefullscalestudy |