title: Impact of low temperature pretreatment on the anaerobic digestion of microalgal biomass.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low temperature pretreatment on the anaerobic digestion of microalgal biomass grown in wastewater. To this end, microalgae were pretreated at low temperatures (55, 75 and 95°C) for 5, 10 and 15 h. Biomass solubilisation was enhanced with the pretreatment temperature and exposure time up to 10h. The methane yield was improved by 14%, 53% and 62% at 55, 75 and 95°C, respectively; and was correlated with the solubilisation increase. The pretreatment at 95°C for 10h increased VS solubilisation by 1188%, the initial methane production rate by 90% and final methane yield by 60% compared to untreated microalgae. With diluted biomass (∼1% VS) positive energy balance was not likely to be attained. However, with concentrated biomass (>2% VS) energy requirements may be covered and even surplus energy generated.
authors.affiliation: GEMMA - Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Hydraulic, Maritime and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, BarcelonaTech, c/ Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Passos
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Ivet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferrer
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D056804:Biofuels / Q000382:microbiology; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D008697:Methane; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology; D012995:Solubility; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D012722:Sewage; D008697:Methane