Methane Production of Algal Biomass from Facultative Stabilization Pond: Evaluation of Anaerobic Biodegradability and Codigestion with Sewage Sludge
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 5
Abstract
Anaerobic biodegradability tests of algae biomass produced on a facultative sewage stabilization pond were conducted at 303 K for up to 24 days. The addition of urea and enabled the algae biomass to adjust its chemical oxygen ratio to . Comparison with the raw substrate showed that it contained sufficient amounts of N and P for bacteria metabolism. The addition of anaerobic sludge as inoculum did not affect the overall degradation efficiency but increased the initial biogas production rate, from 9.2 (without inoculum) up to with 10% volume/volume (v/v) inoculum. The codigestion of algae biomass and anaerobic sludge was evaluated in the range of 5–50% (v/v) of algae biomass, and specific methane production of substrate combination achieved values up to volatile solids, which is 10 times higher than the degradation of just raw sludge. Destruction of volatile solids also increased with the addition of algae biomass, varying from 20% degradation (with raw sludge) up to 42% when 50% (v/v) of algae biomass was added.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by project funds from the Brazilian National Council for Research and Development (CNPq) and the Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support in the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ).
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144 • Issue 5 • May 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 28, 2017
Accepted: Oct 17, 2017
Published online: Feb 21, 2018
Published in print: May 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Jul 21, 2018
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