Solid Digestate—Physicochemical and Thermal Study

Krzysztof Dziedzic, Bogusława Łapczyńska-Kordon, Michał Jurczyk, Marta Arczewska, Marek Wróbel, Marcin Jewiarz, Krzysztof Mudryk and Tadeusz Pająk
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Krzysztof Dziedzic: R&D Department, Cheminstal S.A., Wyrska 15a, 43-175 Łaziska Górne, Poland
Bogusława Łapczyńska-Kordon: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 120 Balicka St., 30-149 Kraków, Poland
Michał Jurczyk: Department of Power Engineering and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Adama Mickiewicza Al., 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Marta Arczewska: Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Environmental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Marek Wróbel: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 120 Balicka St., 30-149 Kraków, Poland
Marcin Jewiarz: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 120 Balicka St., 30-149 Kraków, Poland
Krzysztof Mudryk: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 120 Balicka St., 30-149 Kraków, Poland
Tadeusz Pająk: Department of Power Engineering and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Adama Mickiewicza Al., 30-059 Krakow, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: Biogas production is an important component of sustainable energy management. In addition to energy-rich biogas, this process also generates solid waste in the form of digestate. The management of this stream has been problematic for many years. One promising method of utilizing this fraction seems to be incineration under controlled conditions. This paper presents an analysis of mixtures of different digestates to assess their suitability for incineration. Four digestates based on corn silage CS and apple pomace AP were used as test fuel. The ultimate and proximate analysis showed that this fuel deviates from the standards accepted for pure biomass, but was found in other fuels, especially those treated as waste. This materials can be a valuable source of energy, but combustion needs be undertaken in special units. Moisture content of investigated digestate-type ranges from 11.9–12.2% and ash content ranges from 8.2% to 11.6%. This could lead to ash sintering and slugging problems, which are problematic, especially because it is not designed for such types of fuel boilers. The study showed correlations between the elemental composition and the course of basic combustion processes. The ultimate analysis of all mixtures shows that the shares of major elements looks similar. These results are connected with the thermogravimetric analysis TGA, which shows similar thermal decomposition for all four mixtures. It is valuable information because, in this special case, when we have mixtures of corn silage and apple pomace originated digestates, the changes in the ratio CS:AP will not affect combustion significantly.

Keywords: biomass; anaerobic fermentation; kinetic study; solid digestates (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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