title: Anaerobic Digestion of Laminaria japonica Waste from Industrial Production Residues in Laboratory- and Pilot-Scale.
abstract: The cultivation of macroalgae to supply the biofuel, pharmaceutical or food industries generates a considerable amount of organic residue, which represents a potential substrate for biomethanation. Its use optimizes the total resource exploitation by the simultaneous disposal of waste biomaterials. In this study, we explored the biochemical methane potential (BMP) and biomethane recovery of industrial Laminaria japonica waste (LJW) in batch, continuous laboratory and pilot-scale trials. Thermo-acidic pretreatment with industry-grade HCl or industrial flue gas condensate (FGC), as well as a co-digestion approach with maize silage (MS) did not improve the biomethane recovery. BMPs between 172 mL and 214 mL g(-1) volatile solids (VS) were recorded. We proved the feasibility of long-term continuous anaerobic digestion with LJW as sole feedstock showing a steady biomethane production rate of 173 mL g(-1) VS. The quality of fermentation residue was sufficient to serve as biofertilizer, with enriched amounts of potassium, sulfur and iron. We further demonstrated the upscaling feasibility of the process in a pilot-scale system where a CH₄ recovery of 189 L kg(-1) VS was achieved and a biogas composition of 55% CH₄ and 38% CO₂ was recorded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, Bremen 28759, Germany. ybarbot@jacobs-alumni.de.
authors.forename: Yann Nicolas
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Barbot
authors.affiliation: Phytolutions GmbH, Campus Ring 1, Bremen 28759, Germany. c.thomsen@phytolutions.com.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, Bremen 28759, Germany. l.thomsen@jacobs-university.de.
authors.forename: Laurenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, Bremen 28759, Germany. r.benz@jacobs-university.de.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benz
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019149:Bioreactors; D005285:Fermentation; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007700:Kinetics; D007795:Laminaria / Q000378:metabolism*; D008697:Methane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D008697:Methane
keywords: Laminaria japonica; biogas; biomethane; flue gas condensate; industrial residuals; macroalgae; maize co-digestion; thermo-acidic pretreatment; waste management