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Hydrothermal carbonisation of anaerobic digestate for hydro-char production and nutrient recovery
journal contribution
posted on 2022-02-08, 11:49 authored by Uttam Roy, Tanja RaduTanja Radu, Jonathan WagnerJonathan WagnerThis study investigates the potential of hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) for fractionating anaerobic digestate of sewage sludge into carbon-rich hydrochar and nutrient-rich aqueous phase (AP). AP is subsequently used to supplement cultures of the alkali halophilic microalgae D. tertiolecta (CCAP 19/30), to convert sodium bicarbonate into sodium carbonate solution as part of an integrated biogas purification system. HTC at 200°C gave the highest hydrochar yields (78%) and solid carbon retentions (75%), indicating high carbon capture potential. In contrast, the essential growth nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur were partially solubilised, resulting in HTC-AP concentrations between 11 times (S) and 50 times (P) higher than those in artificial growth medium. Trace nutrient concentrations in the AP were 10 to 80 times higher compared to the artificial medium, with minimal heavy metal solubilisation. Dunaliella tertiolecta grew successfully and without inhibition at HTC-AP concentrations up to 2% (produced at 200°C). AP-supplemented cultures achieved higher cell concentrations (up to 10.0 x 106 cells mL-1), biomass content (maximum of 1.14 ± 0.06 g L-1) and bicarbonate-to-carbonate conversion (83% and 80%, for 1% and 2% of HTC-AP) than the control cultures. Therefore, HTC-AP appears to be a suitable artificial growth medium substitute for cultivating alkali-halophilic microalgae to regenerate carbonate and produce algae biomass, providing an added-value product.
Funding
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Department of Transport through a flexible funding grant from the Supergen Bioenergy Network (SGBH FF Feb2019 2).
History
School
- Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
- Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering
Department
- Chemical Engineering
Published in
Journal of Environmental Chemical EngineeringVolume
10Issue
1Publisher
ElsevierVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
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© ElsevierPublisher statement
This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.107027.Acceptance date
2021-12-15Publication date
2021-12-17Copyright date
2021ISSN
2213-3437Publisher version
Language
- en
Depositor
Dr Tanja Radu. Deposit date: 16 December 2021Article number
107027Usage metrics
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