title: Methane yield enhancement via electroporation of organic waste.
abstract: An experimental study with pulsed electric field (PEF) pre-treatment was conducted to investigate its effect on methane production. PEF pre-treatment converts organic solids into soluble and colloidal forms, increasing bioavailability for anaerobic microorganisms participating in methane generation process. The substrates tested were landfill leachate and fruit/vegetable. Three treatment intensities of 15, 30, and 50kWh/m3were applied to investigate the influence of pre-treatment on methane production via biochemical methane potential test. Threshold treatment intensity was found to be around 30kWh/m3for landfill leachate beyond which the methane production enhanced linearly with increase in intensity. Methane production of the landfill leachate significantly increased up to 44% with the highest intensity. The result of pulsed electric field pre-treatment on fruit/vegetable showed that 15kWh/m3was the intensity by which the highest amount of methane (up to 7%) was achieved. Beyond this intensity, the methane production decreased. Chemical oxygen demand removals were increased up to 100% for landfill leachate and 17% for fruit/vegetable, compared to the untreated slurries. Results indicate that the treatment intensity has a significant effect on the methane production and biosolid removal.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Iceland, VR-II, Hjardarhaga 6, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland. Electronic address: seyedeh.m.safavi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seyedeh Masoumeh
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Safavi
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Iceland, VR-II, Hjardarhaga 6, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: Runar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Unnthorsson
mesh_terms: D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D018274:Electroporation; D008697:Methane; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008697:Methane
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Electroporation; Fruit/vegetable; Landfill leachate; Methane production; Pulsed electric field pre-treatment