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Synchronously enhancing biogas production, sludge reduction, biogas desulfurization, and digestate treatment in sludge anaerobic digestion by adding K2FeO4

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Abstract

In order to enhance the efficiency and benefits of the sludge anaerobic digestion process, K2FeO4 was added to a sludge anaerobic digestion system, and its effects on the system were comprehensively investigated. Results showed that sludge anaerobic digestion was greatly improved by adding 500 mg/L K2FeO4. Biogas and methane productions were increased by 26.6 and 28.4%, respectively. Sludge reduction, protein removal, and the conversion efficiency of dissolved organics were all improved. The mechanism revealed that the disintegration of sludge flocs, enhancement of protease activity, and decrease of soluble sulfide toxicity on microorganisms contributed to biogas production and sludge reduction. Biogas quality was improved, benefitting from the decreasing H2S content in biogas; as additionally, the cost of biogas desulfuration was reduced. In the biogas slurry treatment, the PO43−-P concentrations were decreased by 39%, which also reduced the cost of the dephosphorization processes at certain extent.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51708214 and No. 51608117), the High-level Personnel Research Startup Project of North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power (No. 40550 and No. 40619), and the Treatment Technology Integration and Demonstration for Domestic Sewage of Typical Villages and Towns in Henan Province (No. 161100310700).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450000, China

    Shuli Liu

  2. Henan Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation and Treatment, Zhengzhou, 450046, China

    Shuli Liu

  3. Henan Engineering Research Center of Water Pollution and Soil Damage Remediation, Zhengzhou, 450046, China

    Shuli Liu

  4. Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Guang Yang

  5. School of Civil Engineering and Communication, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450046, China

    Jinwei Fu

  6. School of Environment and Natural Resource, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China

    Guangming Zhang

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  1. Shuli Liu
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  2. Guang Yang
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  3. Jinwei Fu
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  4. Guangming Zhang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guangming Zhang.

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Responsible editor: Bingcai Pan

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Liu, S., Yang, G., Fu, J. et al. Synchronously enhancing biogas production, sludge reduction, biogas desulfurization, and digestate treatment in sludge anaerobic digestion by adding K2FeO4. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 35154–35163 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3438-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3438-4

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