Mariusz Kuglarz

Microwave and thermal pretreatment as methods for increasing the biogas potential of secondary sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants.

In the present study, the sludge was pretreated with microwave irradiation and low-temperature thermal method, both conducted under the same temperature range (30-100°C). Microwave pretreatment was found to be superior over the thermal treatment with respect to sludge solubilization and biogas production. Taking into account the specific energy demand of solubilization, the sludge pre-treated at 60-70°C by microwaves of 900 W was chosen for further experiments in continuous mode, which was more energetically sustainable compared to lower value (700 W) and thermal treatment. Continuous biogas reactor experiments indicated that pre-treated sludge (microwave irradiation: 900 W, temperature: 60-70°C) gave 35% more methane, compared to untreated sludge. Moreover, the results of this study clearly demonstrated that microwave pretreated sludge showed better degree of sanitation.

Integrated production of cellulosic bioethanol and succinic acid from industrial hemp in a biorefinery concept.

The aim of this study was to develop integrated biofuel (cellulosic bioethanol) and biochemical (succinic acid) production from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) in a biorefinery concept. Two types of pretreatments were studied (dilute-acid and alkaline oxidative method). High cellulose recovery (>95%) as well as significant hemicelluloses solubilization (49-59%) after acid-based method and lignin solubilization (35-41%) after alkaline H2O2 method were registered. Alkaline pretreatment showed to be superior over the acid-based method with respect to the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol productivity. With respect to succinic acid production, the highest productivity was obtained after liquid fraction fermentation originated from steam treatment with 1.5% of acid. The mass balance calculations clearly showed that 149kg of EtOH and 115kg of succinic acid can be obtained per 1ton of dry hemp. Results obtained in this study clearly document the potential of industrial hemp for a biorefinery.

Ethanol production from industrial hemp: effect of combined dilute acid/steam pretreatment and economic aspects.

In the present study, combined steam (140-180°C) and dilute-acid pre-hydrolysis (0.0-2.0%) were applied to industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), as pretreatment for lignocellulosic bioethanol production. The influence of the pretreatment conditions and cultivation type on the hydrolysis and ethanol yields was also evaluated. Pretreatment with 1% sulfuric acid at 180°C resulted in the highest glucose yield (73-74%) and ethanol yield of 75-79% (0.38-0.40 g-ethanol/g-glucose). Taking into account the costs of biomass processing, from field to ethanol facility storage, the field-dried hemp pretreated at the optimal conditions showed positive economic results. The type of hemp cultivation (organic or conventional) did not influence significantly the effectiveness of the pretreatment as well as subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation.

Thermochemical pretreatments for enhancing succinic acid production from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.).

The aim of this study was to develop an efficient thermochemical method for treatment of industrial hemp biomass, in order to increase its bioconversion to succinic acid. Industrial hemp was subjected to various thermochemical pretreatments using 0-3% H2SO4, NaOH or H2O2 at 121-180°C prior to enzymatic hydrolysis. The influence of the different pretreatments on hydrolysis and succinic acid production by Actinobacillus succinogenes 130Z was investigated in batch mode, using anaerobic bottles and bioreactors. Enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of hemp material pretreated with 3% H2O2 resulted in the highest overall sugar yield (73.5%), maximum succinic acid titer (21.9 g L(-1)), as well as the highest succinic acid yield (83%). Results obtained clearly demonstrated the impact of different pretreatments on the bioconversion efficiency of industrial hemp into succinic acid.

Treatment of post-digestion liquors with the application of struvite precipitation and reverse osmosis

Abstract Since the post-digestion liquors exhibited a high content of biogenic substances and organic matter, an attempt was made to develop an effective treatment of their treatment, allowing the treated liquors to be directly released into a natural reservoir. The liquors were treated with the application of reverse osmosis (RO) and chemical precipitation (struvite) as a pre-treatment step. The application of a unit RO process did not ensure an adequate removal of contaminants, mainly due to the excessive concentration of in the permeate. The treatment of post-digestion liquors with a struvite precipitation and a subsequent RO process turned out to be effective and allowed to decrease contaminants’ concentration below discharge limits, allowing direct release of permeate to a natural receiver. However, it was necessary to apply an increased ratio of magnesium and phosphates during struvite precipitation (Mg2+: : u2009=u20091.5:1:1.5), preceding reverse osmosis treatment. As compared to the MgCl2·6H2O, the appli...

Removal of aromatic hydrocarbons (BTX) in anoxic and anaerobic wastewater treatment processes

Abstract Benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) are a group of toxic and volatile aromatic compounds prevalent in many industrial wastewaters and they are often determined in municipal wastewater. Usually, BTX-containing wastewater is treated by conventional aerobic wastewater treatment process. However, the removal mechanisms are controversial since these compounds tend to be readily stripped from the aqueous phase to the atmosphere. On the other hand, their efficient removal is essential to reduce the subsequent disposal of such substances into the waters of the receiver. Batch tests with activated sludge process under anoxic and anaerobic conditions have been performed for assessment of the removal of specific organic contaminations BTX (benzene, toluene, and o- and p-xylene). The investigations were carried out in the laboratory anoxic reactors of 5u2009L volume. The content of activated sludge (TSS) was 5u2009g/L and concentrations of BTX in treated wastewater were in the range 0.25–2.37u2009mg/L of each of the comp...

Influence of Microwave Pre-Treatment on the Digestion and Higienisation of Waste Activated Sludge/Wpływ Dezintegracji Mikrofalowej Na Proces Fermentacji Oraz Higienizacji Nadmiernych Osadów Ściekowych

Abstract The article presents the results of determining the most appropriate conditions of microwave sludge pre-treatment (500-1200 W), prior to its anaerobic digestion in a continuous mode. The assessment of the pre-treatment conditions (microwave power, sludge temperature after pre-treatment) was based on: the release of organic (COD, protein) and inorganic (NH4+, PO43-) substances into liquid, the quantity of methane produced, sludge higienisation and the susceptibility of the pre-treated sludge to dewatering. The power of the microwaves applied did not play significant role on the pre-treatment effectiveness. Taking into account the fact that sludge pre-treatment by microwave irradiation requires the delivery of energy, the pre-treatment by microwaves of higher power (1200 W) and resulting in sludge temperature of 70°C was recommended for further experiments. Sludge pre-treatment by means of microwave irradiation as a pre-treatment step influenced the effectiveness of the subsequent anaerobic digestion, conducted in continuous conditions, in a positive way. The largest amount of biogas was obtained for HRT in the range of 15-20 days. As compared to the sludge which did not undergo pre-treatment, daily biogas production and biogas yield increased by 18-41% and 13-35% respectively. The combination of microwave pre-treatment and mesophilic anaerobic digestion ensured the elimination of pathogens (Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli). Abstrakt Celem badań przedstawionych w artykule było wyznaczenie najkorzystniejszych warunków prowadzenia procesu dezintegracji mikrofalowej (500-1200 W) osadów ściekowych przed ich przeróbką w warunkach beztlenowych (warunki ciągłe). Oceny efektywności procesu mikrofalowej dezintegracji osadów (moc mikrofal, temperatura) dokonano, kierując się stężeniem związków organicznych (ChZT, białka rozpuszczalne) uwolnionych do cieczy nadosadowych, wskaźnikami jakościowymi produkowanego biogazu, stopniem higienizacji oraz podatnością osadów przefermentowanych na odwadnianie. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań ustalono, iż moc zastosowanego promieniowania mikrofalowego nie wpłynęła w znaczący sposób na efektywność procesu dezintegracji. Biorąc pod uwagę efektywność oraz zapotrzebowanie energetyczne, ustalono, iż najkorzystniejsze warunki prowadzenia procesu dezintegracji mikrofalowej zapewnia zastosowanie mikrofal o mocy 1200 W oraz temperatury osadów wynoszącej 70°C. Dezintegracja mikrofalowa osadów ściekowych za pomocą promieniowania mikrofalowego wpłynęła korzystnie na efektywność procesu fermentacji metanowej prowadzonego w warunkach ciągłych. Najkorzystniejsze wskaźniki produkowanego biogazu uzyskano dla HRT wynoszącego 15-20 dni. W tych warunkach dobowa i jednostkowa produkcja biogazu wzrosły odpowiednio o 18-41% oraz 13-35%. Zastosowanie dezintegracji mikrofalowej przed procesem mezofilowej fermentacji zapewniło całkowitą eliminację mikroorganizmów patogennych (Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli).

Integrated production of cellulosic bioethanol and succinic acid from rapeseed straw after dilute-acid pretreatment

The aim of this study was to develop an integrated biofuel (cellulosic bioethanol) and biochemical (succinic acid) production process from rapeseed straw after dilute-acid pretreatment. Rapeseed straw pretreatment at 20% (w/v) solid loading and subsequent hydrolysis with Cellic® CTec2 resulted in high glucose yield (80%) and ethanol output (122-125u202fkg of EtOH/Mg of rapeseed straw). Supplementation the enzymatic process with 10% dosage of endoxylanases (Cellic® HTec2) reduced the hydrolysis time required to achieve the maximum glucan conversion by 44-46% and increased the xylose yield by 10% compared to the process with Cellic® CTec2. Significantly higher amounts of succinic acid were produced after fermentation of pretreatment liquor (48u202fkg/Mg of rapeseed straw, succinic acid yield: 60%) compared to fermentation of xylose-rich residue after ethanol production (35-37u202fkg/Mg of rapeseed straw, succinic yield: 68-71%). Results obtained in this study clearly proved the biorefinery potential of rapeseed straw.