Methodological approach for trace elements supplementation in anaerobic digestion: Experience from full-scale agricultural biogas plants

Trace elements play a very important role on the performance and stability of biogas digesters from a variety of biomass-containing residues, both natural or synthetic. Degradation of these complex chemical compounds occurs by the interaction of numerous microorganisms carrying out a series of pathways involving fermentative processes that ultimately lead to methane production. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of the direct relationships existing among trace elements and enzyme activity which regulates the anaerobic digestion processes carried out by these microorganisms. Methanogenesis is one of the most trace-element enriched enzymatic pathways in biology. Trace elements are major key elements in the functioning of multiple enzymes reviewed within this work. Although exact trace-element requirements may differ slightly between pathways depending on composition and the microorganisms involved, there are some general trends characterizing the anaerobic digestion processes. Iron (Fe) is the most abundantly required metal, followed by nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), and zinc (Zn). In order to sustain the

Section: Complex Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace element enzymes in reactions essential for anaerobic digestion

González¹,

Stres²

2019

“…Zinc, molybdenum and selenium have also been reported as essential trace elements for the correct anaerobic digestion of slaughterhouse waste (Ortner et al, 2015). In fact, the addition of molybdenum, cobalt and selenium have been successfully used to revert high volatile fatty acid accumulation in anaerobic digesters (Garuti et al, 2018). The supplementation of trace elements for these substrates, especially iron, cobalt and nickel, should compensate for the deficiencies in feedstock composition that could result in the accumulation of volatile fatty acids.…”

Section: Lipid-rich Feedstockmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vegetable-waste material is composed of different biomass generated from agricultural and agro-industrial activities. This kind of feedstock has been widely used as anaerobic feedstock, even at full scale (Garuti et al, 2018). However, the mono-digestion of vegetable waste can be a challenge due to its high fibre content, i.e.…”

Section: Lignocellulosic Wastementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The unavailability of trace elements in biogas digesters can be one of the main reason for poor process efficiency in the biomethanization of lignocellulosic material (Demirel & Scherer, 2011). The low concentration of trace elements in many lignocelullosic wastes (Table 4.4) makes necessary their supplementation to maintain biogas production and to avoid destabilization of the process (Demirel & Scherer, 2011;Garuti et al, 2018). Biomethanization of lignocelullosic waste entails all the stages of the anaerobic digestion, where many enzymes and cofactors are involved requiring different trace elements in each stage.…”

Section: Lignocellulosic Wastementioning

confidence: 99%

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Engineering of trace-element supplementation

Roussel¹,

Carliell-Marquet²,

Braga³

et al. 2019

Anaerobic digestion industries need to achieve higher performance and strive harder to play a key role in the green future of the energy sector. The importance of trace elements (TE) in the welfare of anaerobic bioreactors must be taken into account by the stakeholder/user to achieve these objectives. However, the implementation of a TE strategy is often stopped by its complexity, a lack of resource and the economic reality of a full-scale operating plant. The aim of this chapter is to support the translation of academic research findings to the engineering and operating of fullscale plant. Management tools have been developed to help operator and stakeholder in their TE assessment of their anaerobic digestion (AD) plant and suggest potential strategies to overcome deficiency. It is essential to understand the key elements of the AD system when developing the TE strategy. Feedstock

“…These elements can already be present in the AD substrate, which will depend on the type of substrate, of digester and of employed digestion procedure (mono or co-digestion) (Ezebuiro & Körner, 2017). On the other hand, TEs could be externally added in digesters, either as single elements or as mixed "cocktails" (Garuti et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing fate and bioavailability of trace elements in soils after digestate application

Almeida¹,

Dror²,

Garuti³

et al. 2019

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a biotechnological process in which organic matter is microbially converted into biogas and digestate. Many parameters affect the underlying microbial processes, including depolymerization of organic compounds, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis, as part of the AD cycle. Optimal concentrations of different nutrients and micronutrients are a prerequisite for optimum microbial growth and metabolism in AD processes. The effluent digestate can be used as a substitute for chemical fertilizers, recycling nutrients to create more sustainable agricultural production systems. Trace elements (TEs) can be transferred to soils during application of digestate as fertilizer, being subjected to environmental influences. To evaluate TEs bioavailability and uptake by plants (which can be transferred to the food chain), TEs leaching processes (which can prevent loss of soils nutrients and run off in ground waters), and TEs effects on soil organisms (which can affect soil fertility and productivity), it is relevant to assess the fate and availability of TEs after land application of digestate. This book chapter provides an overview of different type of biogas plants and digestate post-treatment processes. Trace Elements in Anaerobic BiotechnologiesAssessing fate and bioavailability of trace elements