Pulp and paper bio-sludge (PPBS) has low economic value and is therefore often composted or incinerated. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of using PPBS to breed black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL), so improving resource efficiency and supplying protein and fat to the animal feed market. BSFL were reared on PPBS in a climate chamber on a laboratory scale in order to assess nutrient deficiency, inhibition and whether the BSFL recycle the PPBS well or not. The PPBS used came from a chemi-thermomechanical pulp/groundwood pulp mill. The effect of supplementing nutrient solution added either into the PPBS or as a free liquid surface were studied. Prepupae dry weight, survival rate until prepupae stage and residual dry PPBS were measured. The addition of reference diet leachate into the PPBS did not have a significant impact on the weight of the prepupae (2.0 mg) but the survival rate was significantly higher (16.0%). On the other hand, the addition of reference diet leachate as a free liquid surface had a significant impact on both the weight of the prepupae (4.8 mg) and the survival rate (25.7%). The bio-conversion and PPBS-reduction was as best 0.4 and 3.2% respectively. This study has proven that the nutrients in PPBS are not readily available to the larvae. Addition of reference diet leachate increase the survival rate which opens up for possibilities of co-digestion. However, it is clear that under the tested conditions, BSFL is not recycling PPBS well and BSFL as a method for recycling of PPBS need further research.

This study evaluates the use of fermentation to increase nutrient availability in pulp and paper bio-sludge (PPBS) as feed for black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). Rearing of BSFL on fermented PPBS was carried out in a climate chamber in order to assess nutrient availability and larvae survival and growth. The PPBS used came from a chemo-thermomechanical pulp/groundwood pulp mill. The PPBS was fermented at 35 °C and 55 °C, respectively, at initial pH of 10. The effects of sediment and liquid from fermented PPBS on larvae dry weight, survival rate until the prepupae stage, bioconversion, and reduction rate of PPBS were measured. The bioconversion of the liquids (4.1–6.6%) was substantially higher than for both the sediments and untreated PPBS (≤ 0.4%). The survival rate, on the other hand, was substantially lower (26.3–30.9 %) than for the sediments and untreated PPBS (49.5–52.6%). Neither the sediments nor the liquids had significant effects on the larvae weight or on the PPBS reduction rate. The sediments had no significant effect on the survival rate or the bioconversion. This study demonstrates that fermentation dissolves a part of the PPBS and that dissolved substances in the fermentation liquid readily convert to larvae biomass. However, the bulk of the lignocellulose is not dissolved, and most of PPBS nutrients remain unavailable for growth of the larvae. Further research should focus on improved pretreatment of PPBS to increase availability of nutrients and thereby improve the feasibility of BSFL as a recycling method for PPBS.

Pulp and paper production is one of the largest global industries producing annually 400 million metric tons of pulp and paper products and 6 million tons of pulp and paper biosludge (PPBS). From a resource efficiency and sustainability perspective, there is a need for improving PPBS management. This study assessed fermentation of PPBS as pretreatment to improve PPBS feasibility as feed for black soldier fly larvae. The impact of temperature, pH, and inoculum on the concentration of soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) and volatile fatty acids (VFA) was assessed. An initial pH of 10 and the addition of inoculum from an anaerobic digester substantially increased the concentration of sCOD. The obtained concentration of VFA was low compared to the VFA concentration needed to improve the growth of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL). The PPBS is recalcitrant to fermentation because of the high content of lignocellulose. Fermentation as done in this study does not convert PPBS to a feasible feed for black soldier fly larvae; thus, further research on improved fermentation is needed. However, fermentation at alkaline pH and addition of inoculum do increase the final pH of PPBS which improves its feasibility as feed for BSFL. Future studies should explore pH > 10 and temperatures > 55 °C to increase sCOD and improving generation of VFA by removal of inhibiting substances, testing other types of inoculum (rumen microorganisms) and co-fermentation.