The absolute concentration and bioavailability of trace elements: Two vital parameters affecting anaerobic digestion performance of chicken manure leachate.

It is currently unclear whether trace elements (TEs) deficiency is due to low bioavailability or low absolute TEs concentrations, especially in high-pH anaerobic digestion (AD) systems. A mixed solution of TEs and EDTA-Na2 were used separately in mono-AD of chicken manure (CM) leachate to investigate this research gap. The results showed relatively low bioavailability of Fe, Mn, and Zn. The bioavailability of all TEs remained stable along with a gradual increase in total ammonia nitrogen concentration. Both TE and EDTA-Na2 supplementation improved the bioavailability of TEs, but TEs supplementation also gave a high proportion of soluble TEs. Adding TEs improved methane production efficiency (+38.3%) and decreased the H2S content. The exchangeable fraction of specific TE (Mo) in H2/CO2 pathway was higher in the TEs treatment. TEs bioavailability and absolute concentrations of available TEs are critical aspects that need to be scrutinized to assess the risk of TEs deficiency.

Exploring the combined effect of total ammonia nitrogen, pH and temperature on anaerobic digestion of chicken manure using response surface methodology and two kinetic models.

Ammonia inhibition is the most challenging issue in the anaerobic digestion (AD) of nitrogen-rich substrates. Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentration, temperature and pH are the main operational parameters affecting the chemical equilibrium between free ammonium nitrogen (NH3; FAN) and ammonium ions (NH4+). However, it is still unclear how these parameters together affect digestion performance by influencing this equilibrium. To determine the effect and linkages of these parameters, a Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology (RSM), correlation analysis and two kinetic models were carried out. The results revealed that the linear effect of TAN, the interaction effect between TAN and temperature, and temperature and pH were significant, however, the quadratic effect of TAN, temperature and pH were also significant. Furthermore, TAN and temperature were positively correlated with Mmax, k and Rmax. Findings from this study could provide a theoretical basis to develop the way of relieving ammonia inhibition.

Does the addition of proteases affect the biogas yield from organic material in anaerobic digestion?

The aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical disintegration effect of hydrolytic enzymes in lab scale experiments. Influences of enzyme addition on the biogas yield as well as effects on the process stability were examined. The addition of proteases occurred with low and high dosages in batch and semi-continuous biogas tests. The feed mixture consisted of maize silage, chicken dung and cow manure. Only very high concentrated enzymes caused an increase in biogas production in batch experiments. In semi-continuous biogas tests no positive long-term effects (100 days) were observed. Higher enzyme-dosage led to a reduced biogas-yield (13% and 36% lower than the reference). Phenylacetate and -propionate increased (up to 372 mgl(-1)) before the other volatile fatty acids did. Volatile organic acids rose up to 6.8 gl(-1). The anaerobic digestion process was inhibited.

Trace element supplementation in the biogas production from wheat stillage--optimization of metal dosing.

A trace element dosing strategy for the anaerobic digestion of wheat stillage was developed in this study. Mesophilic CSTR reactors were operated with the sulfuric substrate wheat stillage in some cases under trace element deficiency. After supplementing trace elements during the start-up, one of the elements of Fe, Ni, Co, Mo, and W were depleted in one digester while still augmenting the other elements to determine minimum requirements for each element. The depletion of Fe and Ni resulted in a rapid accumulation of volatile fatty acids while Co and W seem to have a long-term effect. Based on the results it was possible to reduce the dosing of trace elements, which is positive with reference to economic and environmental aspects.

Microbial community structure and dynamics during anaerobic digestion of various agricultural waste materials.

The influence of the feedstock type on the microbial communities involved in anaerobic digestion was investigated in laboratory-scale biogas reactors fed with different agricultural waste materials. Community composition and dynamics over 2 months of reactors' operation were investigated by amplicon sequencing and profiling terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms of 16S rRNA genes. Major bacterial taxa belonged to the Clostridia and Bacteroidetes, whereas the archaeal community was dominated by methanogenic archaea of the orders Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinales. Correlation analysis revealed that the community composition was mainly influenced by the feedstock type with the exception of a temperature shift from 38 to 55 °C which caused the most pronounced community shifts. Bacterial communities involved in the anaerobic digestion of conventional substrates such as maize silage combined with cattle manure were relatively stable and similar to each other. In contrast, special waste materials such as chicken manure or Jatropha press cake were digested by very distinct and less diverse communities, indicating partial ammonia inhibition or the influence of other inhibiting factors. Anaerobic digestion of chicken manure relied on syntrophic acetate oxidation as the dominant acetate-consuming process due to the inhibition of aceticlastic methanogenesis. Jatropha as substrate led to the enrichment of fiber-degrading specialists belonging to the genera Actinomyces and Fibrobacter.