Understanding the Influence of Biochar Augmentation in Anaerobic Digestion by Principal Component Analysis

Jessica Quintana-Najera (), A. John Blacker, Louise A. Fletcher and Andrew B. Ross ()
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Jessica Quintana-Najera: Faculty of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan 80010, Mexico
A. John Blacker: School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Louise A. Fletcher: School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Andrew B. Ross: School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: Biochar addition in anaerobic digestion has been repeatedly reported to improve methane production, however, this ability is not well understood. This work aims to understand and correlate the most important factors influencing anaerobic digestion performance using principal component analysis along with quantitative and qualitative descriptive analysis to evaluate the variations of methane production with the addition of biochar. Reports from the literature using biochar produced from several feedstocks under variable pyrolysis conditions and therefore different compositions were carefully gathered and compared with their own non-biochar controls. Woody-derived biochars, produced at 450–550 °C, containing an ash content of 3.1–6.3%, and an O:C ratio of 0.20, were responsible for having the greatest positive effect. The amount of biochar added to the digesters also influences anaerobic digestion performance. Increasing biochar loads favours the production rate, although this can be detrimental to methane yields, thereby, biochar loads of approximately 0.4–0.6% ( w / v ) appear to be optimal. This work provides a guide for those interested in biochar augmentation in anaerobic digestion and identifies the main interactions between the variables involved.

Keywords: biochar; anaerobic digestion; pyrolysis; principal component analysis (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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