A Comparison of the Influence of Kraft Lignin and the Kraft Lignin/Silica System as Cell Carriers on the Stability and Efficiency of the Anaerobic Digestion Process

Agnieszka A. Pilarska, Agnieszka Wolna-Maruwka, Alicja Niewiadomska, Krzysztof Pilarski and Artur Olesienkiewicz
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Agnieszka A. Pilarska: Department of Plant-Derived Food Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 31, 60-624 Poznań, Poland
Agnieszka Wolna-Maruwka: Department of General and Environmental Microbiology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Szydłowska 50, 60-656 Poznań, Poland
Alicja Niewiadomska: Department of General and Environmental Microbiology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Szydłowska 50, 60-656 Poznań, Poland
Krzysztof Pilarski: Department of Biosystems Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznań, Poland
Artur Olesienkiewicz: Polbiotech Laboratorium Sp. z o.o., Poznań Science and Technology Park, ul. Rubież 46, 61-612 Poznań, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-24

Abstract: This study compares the effects of pure kraft lignin and the kraft lignin/silica system (1:4 by weight). The comparative analysis of the physicochemical properties of both carriers showed that the kraft lignin/silica system was characterised by better properties. The experiment conducted in the study involved continuous anaerobic digestion under mesophilic conditions. Three samples were degraded in the following order: (i) sewage sludge (SS), (ii) SS with the addition of kraft lignin, and (iii) SS with the addition of the kraft lignin/silica system. A quantitative analysis of the digestate samples was carried out by means of in situ fluorescence. It showed more intense proliferation of microorganisms in the SS + kraft lignin/silica variant than in the sample with pure kraft lignin. The highest amount of biogas was obtained in the SS + kraft lignin/silica variant (689 m 3 Mg −1 VS, including 413 m 3 Mg −1 VS of methane; VS—volatile solids). There were comparable amounts of biogas in the SS variant (526 m 3 Mg −1 VS of biogas, including 51% of methane) and the SS + kraft lignin variant (586 m 3 Mg −1 VS of biogas, including 54% of methane). The research clearly showed that the material with a high share of silica was an effective cell carrier.

Keywords: kraft lignin; silica; microbial carriers; anaerobic digestion; process efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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