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Biogas as Renewable Energy Source
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Biogas as Renewable Energy Source

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 13337

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Pilarska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-624 Poznan, Poland
Interests: chemistry; waste management; anaerobic digestion; methane production; water treatment; carriers and adsorbents; NGS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Krzysztof Pilarski

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Biosystems Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznań, Poland
Interests: biogas; waste; anaerobic digestion; wastewater treatment; methane production; environment; water treatment; biodegradation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The world’s energy infrastructure still relies heavily on fossil fuels. Although the price of oil has dropped recently, interest in finding an alternative and clean energy source around the world continues to grow. The reason for this is the detrimental environmental, health, and societal effects of using traditional fossil fuels. Global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions from the petrochemical industry and the burning of fossil fuels is one of the most serious problems for humanity. Many researchers and entrepreneurs claim that it is the vast biomass resources that can help to reduce dependence on fossil fuel resources or even replace them in the future. Biomass acts as a feedstock in the production of biogas (as a renewable energy source) through anaerobic digestion. Among the feedstocks currently used in biogas production, agricultural residues, energy crops, organic-rich wastewater, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, and the organic fraction of industrial waste are most often mentioned. It is worth emphasizing the significant benefits associated with the use of organic waste, for which this method of management clearly fits into the strategy of the closed loop economy model. Biomethane is derived from biogas properly processed in a purification process and can be used directly as vehicle fuel, or injected into the natural gas grid, or converted into electricity and heat in cogeneration units. Biogas technology, although now a well-known technology, is relatively new in some parts of the world. In recent decades, many companies have built biogas plants around the world. The most interesting projects of anaerobic reactors (biogas plants) construction are anaerobic filter and upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (USAB), floating drum digester, GGC-concerned model biogas plant, Deenbandhu model, Chinese model fixed dome digester, bag biogas digester, and plug-flow digester. Considerable experience has been gained that has allowed for the continuous optimization of anaerobic digestion processes and the development of new and more efficient applications. In general, the basic knowledge of biogas production, microorganisms involved, and biochemical processes has been widely developed. This knowledge and new ideas are the basis for starting scientific discussions and sharing experiences. Due to the fact that technological solutions to technical problems in the area of anaerobic digestion tend to vary depending on the feedstocks used, it is necessary to carry out research on the optimization of this process.

Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Pilarska
Prof. Dr. Krzysztof Pilarski
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Biogas production
  • Anaerobic digestion
  • Biomass
  • Biomethane
  • Feedstock type
  • Waste management
  • Environmental protection
  • Biogas plants
  • Process stability
  • Process efficiency
  • Calorific value of biogas
  • Bioreactor configurations
  • Process monitoring
  • Process optimalization
  • Organic loading rate
  • Process monitoring
  • Additives
  • Digestate management
  • Microorganisms
  • Biochemical processes

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

2 pages, 158 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue “Biogas as Renewable Energy Source”
by Agnieszka A. Pilarska and Krzysztof Pilarski
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(20), 11486; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132011486 - 19 Oct 2023
Viewed by 598
Abstract
With the development of civilisation, the demand for energy is increasing [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogas as Renewable Energy Source)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

14 pages, 1655 KiB  
Article
Anaerobic Digestion of Olive Mill Wastewater and Process Derivatives—Biomethane Potential, Operation of a Continuous Fixed Bed Digester, and Germination Index
by Jonas Pluschke, Katharina Faßlrinner, Fatma Hadrich, Slim Loukil, Mohamed Chamkha, Sven-Uwe Geißen and Sami Sayadi
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9613; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179613 - 25 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 956
Abstract
Olive mill wastewater (OMW) management is an economic and environmental challenge for olive oil-producing countries. The recovery of components with high added value, such as antioxidants, is a highly researched approach that could help refinance performant wastewater treatment systems. Anaerobic (co-)digestion is a [...] Read more.
Olive mill wastewater (OMW) management is an economic and environmental challenge for olive oil-producing countries. The recovery of components with high added value, such as antioxidants, is a highly researched approach that could help refinance performant wastewater treatment systems. Anaerobic (co-)digestion is a suitable process to valorize the energetic and nutritional content of OMW and OMW-derived waste streams from resource recovery processes. Issues of process stability, operation, and yields discourage industrial application. Deepening the understanding of biomethane potential, continuous anaerobic digester operational parameters, and co-substrates is key to large-scale implementation. The biomethane potential of different OMW-derived samples and organic solid market waste as co-substrate was 106–350 NL methane per kg volatile solids (VS). The highest yields were obtained with the co-substrate and depolyphenolized OMW mixed with retentate from an ultrafiltration pretreatment. Over 150 days, an anaerobic fixed-bed 300 L digester was operated with different OMW-derived substrates, including OMW with selectively reduced polyphenol concentrations. Different combinations of organic loading rate and hydraulic retention time were set. The biogas yields ranged from 0.97 to 0.99 L of biogas per g of volatile solids (VS) eliminated, with an average methane content in the produced biogas of 64%. Potential inhibition of the process due to high polyphenol concentrations or over-acidification through volatile fatty acids was avoided in the continuous process through process and substrate manipulation. High concentrations of potassium and low concentrations of nitrogen and phosphate end up in the digestate. Sulfate reduction results in high H2S concentrations in the biogas. The digestate was tested for phytotoxic properties via the germination index. Diluted digestate samples improved germination by up to 50%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogas as Renewable Energy Source)
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18 pages, 2344 KiB  
Article
Methane Production Potential from Apple Pomace, Cabbage Leaves, Pumpkin Residue and Walnut Husks
by Robert Czubaszek, Agnieszka Wysocka-Czubaszek and Rafał Tyborowski
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(12), 6128; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12126128 - 16 Jun 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2966
Abstract
Circular economy aims to eliminate organic waste through its transformation, composting and processing into other products or energy. The main aim of the study was to determine the specific methane yield (SMY) of anaerobic digestion (AD) of four different fruit and vegetable residues [...] Read more.
Circular economy aims to eliminate organic waste through its transformation, composting and processing into other products or energy. The main aim of the study was to determine the specific methane yield (SMY) of anaerobic digestion (AD) of four different fruit and vegetable residues (FVR). In addition, the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was calculated based on the assumption that maize will be replaced by the FVR as a feedstock for biogas production. The SMY of four residues (apple pomace, cabbage leaves, pumpkin peels and fibrous strands and walnut husks) was measured in the biomethane potential test (BMP) in wet anaerobic digestion technology. The highest SMY (297.81 ± 0.65 NL kgVS−1) was observed for cabbage leaves while the lowest SMY (131.07 ± 1.30 kgVS−1) was found for walnut husks. The concentrations of two inhibitory gasses (NH3 and H2S) in biogas were low and did not affect the AD process. Only biogas produced from cabbage leaves was characterised by higher NH3 and H2S concentrations resulting from the highest protein concentration in this waste. FVR used as feedstock in biogas production may decrease the area of maize cultivation. Therefore, the GHG emissions from maize cultivation will be reduced. In Poland only, the use of four studied FVR as feedstock for biogas production would contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions by 43,682 t CO2 eq. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogas as Renewable Energy Source)
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15 pages, 1853 KiB  
Article
Anaerobic Digestate from Biogas Plants—Nuisance Waste or Valuable Product?
by Magdalena Szymańska, Hella Ellen Ahrends, Amit Kumar Srivastava and Tomasz Sosulski
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(8), 4052; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12084052 - 17 Apr 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3063
Abstract
Biogas production in waste-to-energy plants will support the decarbonization of the energy sector and enhance the EU’s energy transformation efforts. Digestates (DG) formed during the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes contain large amounts of nutrients. Their use for plant fertilization allows for diversifying [...] Read more.
Biogas production in waste-to-energy plants will support the decarbonization of the energy sector and enhance the EU’s energy transformation efforts. Digestates (DG) formed during the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes contain large amounts of nutrients. Their use for plant fertilization allows for diversifying and increasing the economic efficiency of farming activities. However, to avoid regional production surpluses, processing technologies allowing the acquisition of products that can be transported over long distances are required. This study therefore aimed at determining the effect of applied methods of DG treatment on the chemical composition of the resulting products and their effect on the yields and chemical composition of plants. The following digestate-based products (DGBPs) were tested: two different digestates (DGs), their liquid (LF) and solid fractions (SF) and pellets from DGs (PDG), and pellets form SFs (PSF). Results from the experiment show that during SF/LF separation of DGs, >80% of nitrogen and 87% of potassium flows to LFs, whereas >60% of phosphorus and 70% of magnesium flows to SFs. The highest yields were obtained using untreated DGs and LFs. The application of DGs and LFs was not associated with a leaching of nutrients to the environment (apparent nutrients recovery from these products exceeded 100%). Pelletized DG and SF forms can be used as slow-release fertilizer, although their production leads to significant nitrogen losses (>95%) by ammonia volatilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogas as Renewable Energy Source)
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14 pages, 455 KiB  
Article
The Role of Biomethane from Sewage Sludge in the Energy Transition: Potentials and Barriers in the Arab Gulf States Power Sector
by Mohammad Alshawaf, Abdalrahman Alsulaili, Mohamed Alwaeli and Huda Allanqawi
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10275; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110275 - 02 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2397
Abstract
The increasing energy and water demands by the Arab Gulf states highlight the importance of sustainable use of energy resources. Wastewater sludge management for energy recovery creates an opportunity for sector integration for both wastewater treatment plants and renewable energy production. The objective [...] Read more.
The increasing energy and water demands by the Arab Gulf states highlight the importance of sustainable use of energy resources. Wastewater sludge management for energy recovery creates an opportunity for sector integration for both wastewater treatment plants and renewable energy production. The objective of this study was to theoretically estimate the biomethane potential of wastewater sludge, together with identification of the role of biomethane in the region. The prediction of biomethane potential was based on the theoretical stoichiometry of biomethanation reactions, using the R-based package ‘Process Biogas Data and Predict Biogas Production’. The biomethane potential of sludge ranges between 232–334 × 106 m3, with a total heat-value up to 10.7 trillion BTUs annually. The produced biomethane can generate up to 1665 GWh of electric energy, an equivalent amount to the current levels of electricity generation from wind and solar power combined. The findings from the case study on Kuwait’s indicate that biomethane could displace 13 × 106 m3 of natural gas, or approximately 86,000 barrels of crude oil, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 86% when compared to the base-scenario. Despite its potential, biomethane recovery in the region is hindered by technical-, economic-, and policy-based barriers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogas as Renewable Energy Source)
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14 pages, 6111 KiB  
Article
Problems of Hydrogen Doping in the Methane Fermentation Process and of Energetic Use of the Gas Mixture
by Marcin Herkowiak, Barbara Łaska-Zieja, Andrzej Myczko and Edyta Wrzesińska-Jędrusiak
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(14), 6374; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146374 - 09 Jul 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1819
Abstract
This article discusses the technology for doping hydrogen into the fermenter to increase methane production and the amount of energy in the mixture. Hydrogen doping is anticipated to enable more carbon to be applied to produce methane. Hydrogen is proposed to be produced [...] Read more.
This article discusses the technology for doping hydrogen into the fermenter to increase methane production and the amount of energy in the mixture. Hydrogen doping is anticipated to enable more carbon to be applied to produce methane. Hydrogen is proposed to be produced by using excess electricity from, for example, off-peak electricity hours at night. The possibilities of using a mixture of hydrogen and biogas for combustion in boilers and internal combustion engines have been determined. It has been proven that the volumetric addition of hydrogen reduces the heat of combustion of the mixture. Problems arising from hydrogen doping during the methane fermentation process have been identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogas as Renewable Energy Source)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Case Study Farms

Agnieszka Wawrzyniak, Krzysztof Pilarski and Agnieszka Pilarska*

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