Co-digestion of glycerine and sewage sludge to optimise green electricity production

Water Sci Technol. 2013;67(12):2863-7. doi: 10.2166/wst.2013.149.

Abstract

Sewage sludge and crude glycerine were co-digested in the mesophilic digester of Hoogstraten wastewater treatment plant. Additions of up to 1 kg of crude glycerine/(m³ reactor).(day) were done without significant operational problems. At higher dosage, severe digester foaming was observed. Methane production during co-digestion was up to 20% higher than what would be expected based on the digester input. Compared to the period before glycerine dosage, every tonne of added crude glycerine resulted in a surplus methane production of 489 Nm³. The theoretical methane production from the used crude glycerine was 341 Nm³ per tonne. The difference is explained by a higher sewage sludge degradability during co-digestion with glycerine. Glycerine dosage can remedy the lowered specific biogas yield of sewage sludge in Flanders and consequently enhance green electricity production.

MeSH terms

  • Bioreactors*
  • Glycerol / chemistry
  • Glycerol / metabolism*
  • Renewable Energy*
  • Sewage / chemistry*
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods
  • Water Pollutants

Substances

  • Sewage
  • Water Pollutants
  • Glycerol