Performance and Kinetics of Anaerobic Digestion of Sewage Sludge Amended with Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles, Analyzed Using Sigmoidal Models

Luiza Usevičiūtė, Tomas Januševičius, Vaidotas Danila, Aušra Mažeikienė (), Alvydas Zagorskis, Mantas Pranskevičius and Eglė Marčiulaitienė
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Luiza Usevičiūtė: Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Tomas Januševičius: Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Vaidotas Danila: Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Aušra Mažeikienė: Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Alvydas Zagorskis: Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Mantas Pranskevičius: Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Eglė Marčiulaitienė: Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-24

Abstract: Sewage sludge was treated with nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) to enhance biogas and methane (CH 4 ) production, and the influence of key parameters on the material’s anaerobic digestion (AD) efficiency was analyzed using sigmoidal mathematical models. In this study, three dosages of nZVI (0.5%, 1.5% and 3%) were added to the anaerobic sludge digestion system to enhance and accelerate the sludge decomposition process. The results showed that cumulative biogas yield after 41 days of digestion increased by 23.9% in the reactor with a nZVI dosage of 1.5%. Correspondingly, the highest CH 4 production enhancement by 21.5% was achieved with a nZVI dosage of 1.5% compared to the control. The results indicated that this nZVI dosage was optimal for the AD system, as it governed the highest biogas and CH 4 yields and maximum removal of total and volatile solids. Additionally, to predict biogas and CH 4 yields and evaluate kinetic parameters, eight kinetic models were applied. According to the results of the modified Gompertz, Richards and logistic models, the nZVI dosage of 1.5% shortened the biogas lag phase from 11 to 5 days compared to the control. The Schnute model provided the best fit to the experimental biogas and CH 4 data due to highest coefficients of determination (R 2 : 0.9997–0.9999 at 1.5% and 3% nZVI dosages), as well as the lowest Akaike’s Information Criterion values and errors. This demonstrated its superior performance compared to other models.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; sewage sludge; zero-valent iron nanoparticles; Gompertz; Richards; Cone; Schnute; logistic function; sigmoidal models (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: 2025
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