Energy Production from Cattle Manure within a Life Cycle Assessment Framework: Statistical Optimization of Co-Digestion, Pretreatment, and Thermal Conditions

Alonso Albalate-Ramírez, Mónica María Alcalá-Rodríguez, Luis Ramiro Miramontes-Martínez, Alejandro Padilla-Rivera, Alejandro Estrada-Baltazar, Brenda Nelly López-Hernández and Pasiano Rivas-García ()
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Alonso Albalate-Ramírez: Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Av. Universidad S/N, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolas de los Garza 64451, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Mónica María Alcalá-Rodríguez: Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Av. Universidad S/N, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolas de los Garza 64451, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Luis Ramiro Miramontes-Martínez: Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Av. Universidad S/N, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolas de los Garza 64451, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Alejandro Padilla-Rivera: School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Alejandro Estrada-Baltazar: Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica, Instituto Tecnologico de Celaya, Av. Tecnologico y A. Garcia Cubas S/N, Celaya 38010, Guanajuato, Mexico
Brenda Nelly López-Hernández: Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Av. Universidad S/N, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolas de los Garza 64451, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Pasiano Rivas-García: Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Av. Universidad S/N, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolas de los Garza 64451, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-17

Abstract: Waste to energy processes from anaerobic digestion (WtE-AD) from cattle manure (CM) have low CH 4 yields due to CM’s structural composition. The search for alternatives to increase the energy yields of these processes must consider the optimization of operating parameters within a framework of mitigating the environmental footprint. The goal of this paper is to provide a statistical optimization strategy based on experimental designs to improve CH 4 yields and reduce the environmental profile of CM valorization through a WtE-AD process. Biochemical methane potential tests were conducted to determine the energetic and environmental effects that alkaline pretreatments, different AD temperatures, and co-digestion formulations with fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) have on the WtE-AD process from CM. The evaluation was conducted following a life cycle assessment approach through energy balances. The results indicate that the highest CH 4 yield (384.3 mL CH 4 g VS −1 ) and the lowest environmental impact (−0.06 kg CO 2 eq kWh −1 of electricity production) were achieved with the co-digestion of CM with FVW 1:1, pretreatment with 10 g NaOH 100 g −1 of VS of CM, and a temperature of 45 °C. It was found that the CM pretreatment with NaOH substantially increases the energy profile of the WtE-AD process without compromising the environmental impact since greenhouse gas emissions in chemical production are negligible.

Keywords: waste to energy; anaerobic digestion; pretreatment; co-digestion; operating temperature; life cycle assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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