Technologies and

approaches for anaerobic

digestion
Joan Mata-Alvarez
Universitat de Barcelona
Dpt. Chemical Engineering

XARXA DE CENTRES
DE SUPORT
DEPARTAMENT D’ENGINYERIA QUÍMICA GRUP DE RECERCA EN A LA INNOVACIÓ
BIOTECNOLOGIA AMBIENTAL TECNOLÒGICA

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 Outline
• Aims
• Introduction
• Technologies and approaches
(Substrates)
• Environmental advantages
• Heavy metals considerations
• Some final remarks

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 Outline
• Aims

To offer a global vision of

what can AD do and which
are their strengths and
weakness of this
technology

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
Multistep process

ORGANIC MATTER

BIOGAS + CEL MAT.

No external electron 65% CH4 Reduced
acceptor 35% CO2 amount

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 TWO-STEP REPRESENTATION - +
Process Organic Organic Reduced NO3 NH4 Acetic Carbon H2 CH4 Microorganisms
=
polymers monomers organics SO4 H2S acid dioxide

Hydrolysis of
organic polymers
Fermentation of
organic
ORGANIC MATTER Fermentative
bacteria
monomers

Oxidation of Hydrolysis / Obligate hydrogen

reduced organics producing bacteria
Fermentation (OHPA)
Acetogenic Homoacetogen
respiration of bacteria
bicarbonate
Oxidation of Sulfate-reducing
reduced organics (SRB),
by SRB and NRB nitrate-reducing
VOLATILE (NRB) bacteria
Oxidation of SRB and NRB
acetate by SRB
and NRB
FATTY ACIDS
Oxidation of SRB and NRB
Hydrogen by SRB
and NRB Methanisation
Aceticlastic Aceticlastic
methanogenesis methanogenic
bacteria
Hydrogenotrophic Hydrogenotrophic
methanogenesis methanogenic
bacteria
Organic polymers : Carbohydrates, Lipides, Proteins
Organic monomers : Sugars, organic acids, aminoacids BIOGAS
Reduced organics : Volatile fatty acids (propionic, butiric, valeric)

Pohland, 1992
Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008
• First full scale applications in a
widespread basis were in Germany and
Austria (80’s)

• Since then, this technology has attracted

the attention to different countries. For
instance, in 95-96, in began to be
considered in Spain.

• The overall installed capacity of AD

plants treating OFMSW is now around 4
MM t/y
Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008
 Evolution of the installed capacity in
Europe
EVOLUCIÓNand
DE LASpain
CAPACIDAD

4500000

First applications in Germany and

4000000 Austira (2nd half 80’s)
3500000

In 95-96 began to be
3000000
considered in Spain,
2500000
TON/AÑO

Europe Spain
2000000
Total Tot. Acum. Total Tot. Acum.
1500000

1000000

500000

0
<1990 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 Evolution of the installed capacity in
Europe
EVOLUCIÓNand
DE LASpain
CAPACIDAD

4500000

First applications in Germany and

4000000 Austira (2nd half 80’s)
• The overall installed capacity of
3500000

OFMSW – AD
3000000
in Europe
In 95-96 began to be is around 4
considered in Spain,
million ton/year, half of which are
2500000
TON/AÑO

treating biowaste.
Europe
2000000
Spain
Total Tot. Acum. Total Tot. Acum.
• However it is still a small share
1500000

compared with the total MSW produced

1000000

in Europe or with the installed

500000

incineration capacity (more than 10

0

times higher). <1990 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 1 m3 Biogas: (60 % CH4) GREEN ENERGY:
•CHP Application
6 kWh •Injection NG grid
600 kg CO2 emm. savings •Vehicle fuel

Biowaste DIGESTER

1.3 TWh energy CLO

100 Tg CO2/y

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

• Technologies and
approaches

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 TECHNOLOGIES

Basically divided into two:

• Dry: Over 15% TS
• Wet: Under 12% TS

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 Scheme of a wet AD plant
WASTE STREAM

TROMMEL COARSE RECOVERY OF RESIDUAL

FRACTION RECYCLABLES WASTE
(NON-
ORGANIC)
FINE
FRACTION
RECOVERED
(ORGANIC)
MATERIAL

PULPER/ SHREDDER

DILUTION AND THERMAL WASTEWATER

CONDITIONING

REMOVAL OF SAND AND GRIT

REMOVAL OF PLASTICS AND LIQUID
LIGHT MATERIALS EFFLUENT

DEWATERING
DIGESTER SYSTEM DIGESTATE

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 Scheme of an AD plant
WASTE STREAM

TROMMEL COARSE RECOVERY OF RESIDUAL

FRACTION RECYCLABLES WASTE
(NON-
ORGANIC)
FINE
FRACTION
RECOVERED
(ORGANIC)
MATERIAL

PULPER/ SHREDDER

• “Dry” technology is simpler

DILUTION AND THERMAL WASTEWATER
(less pre-
CONDITIONING
treatment and less water involved)
• Recirculation
REMOVAL OF SAND AND GRIT
REMOVAL OF PLASTICS AND
isLIQUID
needed to assure
EFFLUENT
adequate inoculation
LIGHT MATERIALS
of the feed.
DEWATERING
DIGESTER SYSTEM DIGESTATE

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 Scheme of an AD plant
WASTE STREAM

TROMMEL COARSE RECOVERY OF RESIDUAL

FRACTION RECYCLABLES WASTE
(NON-
ORGANIC)
FINE
FRACTION
RECOVERED
(ORGANIC)
MATERIAL

PULPER/ SHREDDER

DILUTION AND THERMAL WASTEWATER

CONDITIONING

REMOVAL OF SAND AND GRIT

REMOVAL OF PLASTICS AND LIQUID
LIGHT MATERIALS EFFLUENT

DEWATERING
DIGESTER SYSTEM DIGESTATE

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 Industrial technologies in Europe
< 3 plants 7-10 plants > 15 plants
AN MAT-BTA KOMPOGAS
DSD-CTA HAASE LINDE (KCA/BRV)
D.U.T. VALORGA
Orgaworld
OWS-DRANCO
Paques
ROS-ROCA
Roediger
T.B.W.
WABIO
IMK
Werhle Werk
Cecchini
Komptech
Babcock
Alteno
ISKA
Farmatic Schwa
Becon
Hera % Capacity in
BioEnergy (Horstmann) Number of plants Europa
Heese Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008
Different types of physical and biological unit
operations commonly found in AD plants
MECHANICAL
SEPARATION
Trommel
BIOLOGICAL
Screen (static or vibrating)
OPERATION:
Magnet ANAEROBIC
Foucault DIGESTION
COMPOSTING
Optical classification

Air classification

Hand separation

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

SUBSTRATE TEMPER. USE OF MODE OF
FED BIOGAS OPERATION
Biowaste Mesophjilic CHP Batch
MS-OFMSW Thermophilic Grid Continuous
Injection
Cosubstrates Vehicle Fuel

FLOW NUMBER SOLID DIGESTATE

PATTERN OF STEPS CONTENTS TREATM.

Mixed Single Dry No treat.

Plug flow Two-steps Wet Composting

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 Temperature ranges of operation
Thermophilic
Psichrophilic Mesophilic

Rate of the AD process

0 10 20 30 35 40 50 55 60 70 80

Temperature
3rd BFCNet BIOMASS FERMENTATION and FUEL CELLS as KEY to…
WORKSHOP Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment
Perugia 22-23 May 2008
19-21 Jan 05
Thermofilic vs. Mesophilic AD

At low HRT,
TAD gives better At high HRT,
yields yields are
similar

Specific values depend on the Supernatant with

specific substrate more VFA content

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

PLUG-FLOW DIGESTERS

DRANCO
A. KOGAS
B. VALORGA
C.

Inoculum recycle

Biogas
recirculation
Feed Digested
paste Feed
Digested
paste
Feed Digested
paste

(Vandevivere et al., 2003)

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

Pre-treated OFMSW

FIRST STEP

Fed. Screw.

Recirculated
Liq. Fraction

DEWATER.
Liq. Fraction SECOND STEP

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

• AD plants in
Barcelona

Ecoparc-2 de Montcada, Valorga

80,000 t/a

Ecoparc-1 de Barcelona, Linde

140,000 t/a 90,000 t/a

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 LINDE BRV in Valladolid (16,000 t/y)

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 BEKON PLANT

DRANCO PLANT Munich (Germany, 16000 t/y)

Terrassa (Spain, 25000 t/y)

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 REQUIREMENTS
Good mass transfer
(transport phenomena, contact
microorganisms-substrate)
Good heat transfer
(specially in thermophilic systems)
Absence of mechanical problems
(experience with different types of
substrates)

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

Some operational data
• Biogas production: 90-150 m3 biogas /
ton of OFMSW (depending on substrate
quality)
• This represents 100 - 150 KWh/t
electricity surplus
•Thermophilic dry digesters may be
operated at OLR’s of 10 - 12 kg VS/m3.d.
• At this load volumetric production is high:
5 - 7 m3/m3 reactor * d

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

Substrates

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

• At full scale it can be applied to the
OFMSW of different origins, combined
or not with composting
• Basically it is applied to:
Biowaste MS- Mixed
OFMSW
Grey bag

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

Biowaste AD approaches:

- Co-digestion:
- Sewage Sludge
- Agricultural wastes
- Farm wastes
- Agroindustrial Wastes.
- Food markets
- etc

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 Codigestion Possibilities
Biowaste AD plant
BIOWASTE in WWTP + SS

Common in some
• Interesting (uses already plants
existing infrastructures)
• Loading rate Digesters
low

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 EFECTOS DE LA ADICION DE FORSU EN LOS FANGOS DE DEPURADORA SORE EL LA
PRODUCCION DE GAS Y EL TIEMPO DE RESIDENCIA

PRO D UCC IÓ N DE B IO G A S O D E EL ECT RICID AD

200,0 21,0
Incremento biogas/electricidad
PO RCEN T AJE DE INC REMENT O EN L A

180,0
Nuevo Tiempo de Residencia 20,5
160,0

140,0 20,0

120,0
19,5
100,0
19,0
80,0

60,0 18,5
40,0
18,0
20,0

0,0 17,5
0,0 2,0 4,0 6,0 8,0 10,0 12,0 14,0 16,0 18,0
PERCENTAJE DE INCREMENTO EN EL CAUDAL DE ENTRADA AL DIGESTOR

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

• Environmental advantages

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

Advantages of AD for treating
biowaste
• Use of biogas as a renewable resource
implies savings on fossil fuels and GHG
emissions. It can also reduce NO2
emissions compared with other fuels.
• Regarding the use of compost:
• Savings on mineral fertilizers and on
organic matter (peat and straw), which
also represents savings of GHG
emissions.
Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008
Other advantages of compost
or digestate soil application
SHORT TERM:
• Less possibilities of soil erosion
• Less irrigation requirements (better
water and nutrient hoding capacity)
• Better soil structure (porosity)

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

Other advantages of compost
or digestate soil application
SHORT TERM:
Less requirements for pesticides
(phytosanitary effects)
WHICH INDIRECTLY FAVOURS ENERGY GLOBAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR AGRICULTURE.

LONG TERM:
Additionally use of compost on agriculture
may sequestrate carbon in the soil

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 An example
(Erhart 2008)

•The humus content of the solid decreased in

the unfert. Control (3.4 to 3.15%) which is
6250 kgC/ha
•With compost increased to 3.5-5.7% which is
1900 to 6500 kgC/ha depending on the
compost app. Rate, which represented 10-
19% of the Org.Carbon applied
Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008
• Regarding heavy metals
(HM)…

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

Mass balance with codigestion
(Bolzonella and Cecchi, 2008)

DIGESTER
Biowaste Biowaste Rem:
Biowaste Rim 60&
60% COMPOST D.Lgs 217/06
Q, ton/y 60.000 Q, ton/y 65.300
TS, % 31 Sludge
Sludge Rem: 10%
Rim 10% TS, % 51
TVS, % 84 TVS, %
Cd 0,14 Green w. Rem:
Green 20%
Rim 30% Cd 1,0 1,5
Cr 7,80 Cr 33
Hg 0,036 Hg 0,9 1,5
Ni 4,00 Ni 28 100
Pb 5,30 Pb 47 140
Cu 25,10 Cu 143 150
Zn 48,50 Zn 437 500

Sludge Green
Q, ton/y 40.000 Q, ton/y 51.000
TS, % 20 TS, % 50
TVS, % 70 TVS, % 80
Cd 1,9 Cd 0,3
Cr
Hg
35,0
2,9
Cr
Hg
12
0,1
Cu and Zn close
Ni
Pb
26,3
91,3
Ni
Pb
14
14 to the standards
Cu 272,0 Cu 33
Zn 970,0 Zn 104

More stringent HM limits should be avoided

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 Heavy metals
content in crops
(Erhart et al., 2008b)

• After 10 years of biowaste compost appl. no

significant increases in HM mobility were
observed.
• Several crops have lower Cd conc. than
wihtout fertilizer while Cd in minerally fertilized
were significant higher
Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008
 Another example
Veeken et al. (2004).

Sequential chemical extraction of the

fractions of biowaste showed that Cu,
Pb, and Zn are very strongly bound to
the organic fractions and less than 1%
is water soluble at different pH’s.

Carefully selecting the limits to

promote C recovery

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 Pre-dessertification stage

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

• Some final remarks

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008

 Some final remarks
• Plants have quite different capacities,
ranging from 16,000 t/y to more than
140,000 t/y and treating all kinds of
OFMSW.
• Many plants have been started up without
having in mind the implementation of
separate collection of the organic fraction
(just to boost recyclying objectives and to
divert organic matter from landfill) and
others without having yet implemented it.
Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008
 Some final remarks
• The succes of biowaste AD is similar to
other technologies, with plants showing
economical and or operational
problems
• Energy aspects are the most important
when compared with other technologies
• Derived compost is a very valuable
product. Macronutrient alone would
need ca.90 kWh/t to be produced as
mineral fertilizer
Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008
 Some final remarks
• Anaerobic co-digestion of biowaste and
sludge can be a good solution to be
implemented on specific places with
very interesting costs
• Progress of AD technology is linked to
the cooperation of technology providers,
operators and clients
• Attention to the stringent limits of HM on
compost
Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008
Thank you for your kind
attention!

Grazie per la sua cortese

attenzione!

jmata@ub.edu

Beacon Conference on BiologicalTreatment Perugia 22-23 May 2008