Browsing by Subject "Trace elements"

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    Einsatz von Spurenelementen bei der Vergärung von nachwachsenden Rohstoffen in Biogasanlagen
    (2014) Vintiloiu, Anca; Jungbluth, Thomas
    The operational agricultural biogas plants in Germany are fed mainly with renewable raw materials. During substrate addition, several micro and macro elements enter the digester. These elements are essential nutrients for the methanogens. If their concentration is too low, the production of biogas can be disrupted. A large number of agricultural biogas plants use therefore commercially available trace element solutions to optimize the process and to achieve higher methane yields. When the fermentation is complete, the digestate containing these trace elements (mostly heavy metals) is spread on fields as fertilizer. The amounts added to the biogas process should be kept as low as possible in order to minimize the environmental damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cause of trace elements deficiency in renewable raw materials fed biogas plants. It was also tested whether the chelation of the nutrients could increase their bioavailability for microorganisms and thus lead to a reduction of the amounts needed for the stabilization of the fermentation process. The effect of the complexing agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the bioavailability of metal ions was tested. The sole addition of EDTA to an undersupplied substrate increased the methane yield by up to 32 %. When trace elements were also added, their amounts could be reduced by up to 75 % with no negative consequences for the fermentation process. EDTA is a persistent chelating agent and so it was further tested, whether readily biodegradable chelating agents (ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) and iminodisuccinic acid (IDS)) could have the same effect. During the investigation, IDS had a high statistically significant positive effect on the bioavailability of the metal ions, which exceeded the effect of EDTA. IDS represents therefore a good alternative to EDTA. The bioavailability of the metal ions in the digester was increased by the use of complexing agents, which made the reduction of the trace elements amounts needed to compensate for substrate-related deficiency symptoms possible. This reduces the pollution on the agricultural land on which the digestate is used as fertilizer.
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    Mono-digestion of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural process-wastewater in continuously operated anaerobic filters: A cascade utilization approach
    (2023) Khan, Muhammad Tahir; Krümpel, Johannes; Wüst, Dominik; Lemmer, Andreas
    A proper remedy for the overexploitation of biomass and biobased materials in the bioeconomy is the valorization of biorefineries’ side streams into meaningful products. Hence, in pursuit of a cascade utilization of renewables, a unique biorefinery byproduct was investigated for its biogas potential, specifically methane, in continuously operated anaerobic filters. For this purpose, 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural process-wastewater, after supplementation of necessary nutrients, was diluted down to 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 gCOD/L concentrations and thereafter tested individually at 43 °C and 55 °C. Maximum methane conversion efficiency at either temperature was observed for test substrates with 10 gCOD/L and 20 gCOD/L concentrations. At 43 °C, the anaerobic filters exhibited their highest biogas yields when supplied with the 30 gCOD/L feedstock. Further exposure of the mesophilic and thermophilic consortia to the ensuing 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural process-wastewater dilutions compromised the stability of the anaerobic process due to the soaring concentrations of short-chained volatile fatty acids. The supplementation of necessary nutrients to unlock the methane potential of the given recalcitrant substrate appears insufficient. Techniques like micro aeration, photolysis, or the use of activated carbon in the fixed bed might have the ability to enhance the biochemical methane conversion of such feedstock; otherwise, the introduction of trace elements alone may be adequate if aiming for platforms (volatile fatty acids) via anaerobic technologies.