Biogas production on lab-scale: utilization of wastewater from Hunedoara treatment plant

Abstract

In the present work, the potential of wastewater procured from a local treatment plant situated in Hunedoara in order to produce biogas was assessed in anaerobic co-digestion process. Finding appropriate combinations of feedstocks involved in the process represents a key factor in obtaining high biogas amounts and also high quality of biogas. Therefore, a case study was carried out in a lab-scale installation for biogas production using a suspension consisting of wastewater, animal (cow and chicken) slurry and degraded corn. The wastewater and animal slurry were selected as the main feedstock, providing for the microbial community required in the anaerobic digestion, in a volume ratio of 3:1 animal slurry to wastewater. Moreover, the feedstocks were subjected to several characterization methods: determination of total content of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen and the content of volatile matter using European Standards. The process was performed in thermophilic conditions and controlled mixing of the suspension for a period of 24 days. The performances were appreciated by monitoring the amount of the produced biogas and the main gaseous components of the biogas: CH4, CO2 and H2S.