Enhancement of Anaerobic Digestion with Nanomaterials: A Mini Review

In recent years, the number of articles reporting the addition of nanomaterials to enhance the process of anaerobic digestion has exponentially increased. The benefits of this addition can be observed from different aspects: an increase in biogas production, enrichment of methane in biogas, eliminat...

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Main Authors: Raquel Barrena, Javier Moral-Vico, Xavier Font, Antoni Sánchez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/14/5087
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author Raquel Barrena
Javier Moral-Vico
Xavier Font
Antoni Sánchez
author_facet Raquel Barrena
Javier Moral-Vico
Xavier Font
Antoni Sánchez
author_sort Raquel Barrena
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, the number of articles reporting the addition of nanomaterials to enhance the process of anaerobic digestion has exponentially increased. The benefits of this addition can be observed from different aspects: an increase in biogas production, enrichment of methane in biogas, elimination of foaming problems, a more stable and robust operation, absence of inhibition problems, etc. In the literature, one of the current focuses of research on this topic is the mechanism responsible for this enhancement. In this sense, several hypotheses have been formulated, with the effect on the redox potential caused by nanoparticles probably being the most accepted, although supplementation with trace materials coming from nanomaterials and the changes in microbial populations have been also highlighted. The types of nanomaterials tested for the improvement of anaerobic digestion is today very diverse, although metallic and, especially, iron-based nanoparticles, are the most frequently used. In this paper, the abovementioned aspects are systematically reviewed. Another challenge that is treated is the lack of works reported in the continuous mode of operation, which hampers the commercial use of nanoparticles in full-scale anaerobic digesters.
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spelling doaj.art-f8ebd0841281430d923d7afa8bdd367a2023-11-30T23:07:26ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-07-011514508710.3390/en15145087Enhancement of Anaerobic Digestion with Nanomaterials: A Mini ReviewRaquel Barrena0Javier Moral-Vico1Xavier Font2Antoni Sánchez3Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, SpainIn recent years, the number of articles reporting the addition of nanomaterials to enhance the process of anaerobic digestion has exponentially increased. The benefits of this addition can be observed from different aspects: an increase in biogas production, enrichment of methane in biogas, elimination of foaming problems, a more stable and robust operation, absence of inhibition problems, etc. In the literature, one of the current focuses of research on this topic is the mechanism responsible for this enhancement. In this sense, several hypotheses have been formulated, with the effect on the redox potential caused by nanoparticles probably being the most accepted, although supplementation with trace materials coming from nanomaterials and the changes in microbial populations have been also highlighted. The types of nanomaterials tested for the improvement of anaerobic digestion is today very diverse, although metallic and, especially, iron-based nanoparticles, are the most frequently used. In this paper, the abovementioned aspects are systematically reviewed. Another challenge that is treated is the lack of works reported in the continuous mode of operation, which hampers the commercial use of nanoparticles in full-scale anaerobic digesters.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/14/5087anaerobic digestionnanomaterialsmetallic nanoparticlesbiogasmethaneoperation mode
spellingShingle Raquel Barrena
Javier Moral-Vico
Xavier Font
Antoni Sánchez
Enhancement of Anaerobic Digestion with Nanomaterials: A Mini Review
Energies
anaerobic digestion
nanomaterials
metallic nanoparticles
biogas
methane
operation mode
title Enhancement of Anaerobic Digestion with Nanomaterials: A Mini Review
title_full Enhancement of Anaerobic Digestion with Nanomaterials: A Mini Review
title_fullStr Enhancement of Anaerobic Digestion with Nanomaterials: A Mini Review
title_full_unstemmed Enhancement of Anaerobic Digestion with Nanomaterials: A Mini Review
title_short Enhancement of Anaerobic Digestion with Nanomaterials: A Mini Review
title_sort enhancement of anaerobic digestion with nanomaterials a mini review
topic anaerobic digestion
nanomaterials
metallic nanoparticles
biogas
methane
operation mode
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/14/5087
work_keys_str_mv AT raquelbarrena enhancementofanaerobicdigestionwithnanomaterialsaminireview
AT javiermoralvico enhancementofanaerobicdigestionwithnanomaterialsaminireview
AT xavierfont enhancementofanaerobicdigestionwithnanomaterialsaminireview
AT antonisanchez enhancementofanaerobicdigestionwithnanomaterialsaminireview