Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of the Reactor Performance of Alkaline-Pretreated Corn Stover Co-digested with Dairy Manure Under Solid-State

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Waste and Biomass Valorization Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Solid-state anaerobic digestion is a promising path to optimize green energy generation from waste management. This mesophilic study investigated the performance of sodium hydroxide (4%NaOH), ammonium hydroxide (2%NH4OH, and 4%NH4OH), and calcium hydroxide (8%Ca(OH)2) pretreated corn stover (Cs) co-digested with dairy manure (Dm) to achieve 4%NaCsDm, 2%AqCsDm, 4%AqCsDm, and 8%CaCsDm treatments. Results showed that 8%CaCsDm had shortened detention time (79 days) and increased methane yield (178 L/kg VS) in comparison with other treatments. In addition, propionic acid concentration in treatment 4%NaCsDm was elevated beyond a safe threshold (> 0.9 g/L) for methanogens, which is unlike the significant bioconversion that occurred for other treatments. Though, free ammonia concentration for 2%AqCsDm and 4%AqCsDm pre-digestates were within the safe limit (< 53 mg/L) relative to other treatments, 8%CaCsDm sufficiently reduced the initial inhibitory concentration to a safe threshold at the cessation of the experiment. Additionally, 8%CaCsDm treatment had the highest VFA bioconversion rate (80%). Therefore, this study demonstrated that 8%CaCsDm treatment could effectively improve reactor performance in solid-state anaerobic co-digestion.

Graphic Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Li, H.Y., Xu, L., Liu, W.J., Fang, M.Q., Wang, N.: Assessment of the nutritive value of whole corn stover and its morphological fractions. Asian Austral. J. Anim. Sci. 27(2), 194 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Li, Y., Zhang, R., He, Y., Liu, X., Chen, C., Liu, G.: Thermophilic solid-state anaerobic digestion of alkaline-pretreated corn stover. Energy Fuels 28(6), 3759–3765 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Monlau, F., Barakat, A., Steyer, J.P., Carrere, H.: Comparison of seven types of thermo-chemical pretreatments on the structural features and anaerobic digestion of sunflower stalks. Bioresour. Technol. 120, 241–247 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Tišma, M., Planinić, M., Bucić-Kojić, A., Panjičko, M., Zupančič, G.D., Zelić, B.: Corn silage fungal-based solid-state pretreatment for enhanced biogas production in anaerobic co-digestion with cow manure. Bioresour. Technol. 253, 220–226 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Zhang, S., Guo, H., Du, L., Liang, J., Lu, X., Li, N., Zhang, K.: Influence of NaOH and thermal pretreatment on dewatered activated sludge solubilisation and subsequent anaerobic digestion: focused on high-solid state. Bioresour. Technol. 185, 171–177 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chang, V.S., Holtzapple, M.T.: Fundamental factors affecting biomass enzymatic reactivity. In: Sachs, J. (ed.) Twenty-First Symposium Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, pp. 5–37. Humana Press, Totowa (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hendriks, A.T.W.M., Zeeman, G.: Pretreatments to enhance the digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass. Bioresour. Technol. 100(1), 10–18 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Khor, W.C., Rabaey, K., Vervaeren, H.: Low temperature calcium hydroxide treatment enhances anaerobic methane production from (extruded) biomass. Bioresour. Technol. 176, 181–188 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kim, T.H., Kim, J.S., Sunwoo, C., Lee, Y.Y.: Pretreatment of corn stover by aqueous ammonia. Bioresour. Technol. 90(1), 39–47 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Sindhu, R., Binod, P., Pandey, A.: Biological pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass—an overview. Bioresour. Technol. 199, 76–82 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Zhao, J., Ge, X., Vasco-Correa, J., Li, Y.: Fungal pretreatment of unsterilized yard trimmings for enhanced methane production by solid-state anaerobic digestion. Bioresour. Technol. 158, 248–252 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Yue, Z., Chen, R., Yang, F., MacLellan, J., Marsh, T., Liu, Y., Liao, W.: Effects of dairy manure and corn stover co-digestion on anaerobic microbes and corresponding digestion performance. Bioresour. Technol. 128, 65–71 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Xu, F., Li, Y.: Solid-state co-digestion of expired dog food and corn stover for methane production. Bioresour. Technol. 118, 219–226 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Wang, Y., Li, G., Chi, M., Sun, Y., Zhang, J., Jiang, S., Cui, Z.: Effects of co-digestion of cucumber residues to corn stover and pig manure ratio on methane production in solid state anaerobic digestion. Bioresour. Technol. 250, 328–336 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Feng, J., Li, Y., Zhang, E., Zhang, J., Wang, W., He, Y., Chen, C.: Solid-state co-digestion of NaOH-pretreated corn straw and chicken manure under mesophilic condition. Waste Biomass Valoriz. 9(6), 1027–1035 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  16. He, Y., Pang, Y., Liu, Y., Li, X., Wang, K.: Physicochemical characterization of rice straw pretreated with sodium hydroxide in the solid state for enhancing biogas production. Energy Fuels 22(4), 2775–2781 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Yuan, H., Li, R., Zhang, Y., Li, X., Liu, C., Meng, Y., et al.: Anaerobic digestion of ammonia-pretreated corn stover. Biosyst. Eng. 129, 142–148 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Wang, X., Lu, X., Li, F., Yang, G.: Effects of temperature and carbon–nitrogen (C–N) ratio on the performance of anaerobic co-digestion of dairy manure, chicken manure and rice straw focusing on ammonia inhibition. PLoS ONE 9(5), 1–7 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ajayi-Banji, A.A., Rahman, S., Sunoj, S., Igathinathane, C.: Impact of corn stover particle size and C/N ratio on reactor performance in solid-state anaerobic co-digestion with dairy manure. Waste Biomass Valoriz. 70(4), 436–454 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Motte, J.C., Escudié, R., Hamelin, J., Steyer, J.P., Bernet, N., Delgenes, J.P., Dumas, C.: Substrate milling pretreatment as a key parameter for solid-state anaerobic digestion optimization. Bioresour. Technol. 173, 185–192 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  21. AOAC Official Method: Ash Determination, Official Methods of Analysis, 15th edn. AOAC, Washington, DC (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Al-Ghouti, M.A., Khraisheh, M.A.M., Allen, S.J., Ahmad, M.N.: The removal of dyes from textile wastewater: a study of the physical characteristics and adsorption mechanisms of diatomaceous earth. J. Environ. Manag. 69(3), 229–238 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Pella, E.: Elemental organic-analysis. 1. Historical developments. Am. Lab. 22(3), 116 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Isaac, R.A., Johnson, W.C.: Determination of total nitrogen in plant tissue, using a block digestor. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 59, 98–100 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Goering, H.K., Van Soest, P.J.: Forage Fiber Analyses. Agriculture Handbook No. 379. ARS, USDA, Washington, DC (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  26. AOAC Official Method 973.18: Fibre (Acid Detergent) and Lignin (H2SO4) in Animal Feed, Official Methods of Analysis, Revision 3, 18th edn. AOAC, Washington, DC (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  27. AOAC Official Method 2001.11: Protein (Crude) in Animal Feed, Forage, Grains and Oilseeds, Official Methods of Analysis, Revision 3, 18th edn. AOAC, Washington, DC (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  28. APHA: Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (2320B), 18th edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Baumgardt, B.R.: Practical Observations on the Quantitative Analysis of Free Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) in Aqueous Solutions by Gas-Liquid Chromatography. Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Zhou, P., Elbeshbishy, E., Nakhla, G.: Optimization of biological hydrogen production for anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and wastewater biosolids. Bioresour. Technol. 130, 710–718 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Liu, C.F., Yuan, X.Z., Zeng, G.M., Li, W.W., Li, J.: Prediction of methane yield at optimum pH for anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Bioresour. Technol. 99(4), 882–888 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Yu, J., Zhao, Y., Liu, B., Zhao, Y., Wu, J., Yuan, X., et al.: Accelerated acidification by inoculation with a microbial consortia in a complex open environment. Bioresour. Technol. 216, 294–301 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Wang, L., Zhou, Q., Li, F.T.: Avoiding propionic acid accumulation in the anaerobic process for biohydrogen production. Biomass Bioenerg. 30(2), 177–182 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Brown, D., Li, Y.: Solid state anaerobic co-digestion of yard waste and food waste for biogas production. Bioresour. Technol. 127, 275–280 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Li, Y., Zhang, R., Chen, C., Liu, G., He, Y., Liu, X.: Biogas production from co-digestion of corn stover and chicken manure under anaerobic wet, hemi-solid, and solid state conditions. Bioresour. Technol. 149, 406–412 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Wu, Y., Wang, C., Liu, X., Ma, H., Wu, J., Zuo, J., Wang, K.: A new method of two-phase anaerobic digestion for fruit and vegetable waste treatment. Bioresour. Technol. 211, 16–23 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Wang, K., Yin, J., Shen, D., Li, N.: Anaerobic digestion of food waste for volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production with different types of inoculum: effect of pH. Bioresour. Technol. 161, 395–401 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Jiang, J., Li, L., Cui, M., Zhang, F., Liu, Y., Liu, Y., Long, J., Guo, Y.: Anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste: the effects of source, concentration, and temperature. Biochem. Eng. J 135, 91–97 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Zhai, N., Zhang, T., Yin, D., Yang, G., Wang, X., Ren, G., Feng, Y.: Effect of initial pH on anaerobic co-digestion of kitchen waste and cow manure. Waste Manag. 38, 126–131 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Angelidaki, I., Boe, K., Ellegaard, L.: Effect of operating conditions and reactor configuration on efficiency of full-scale biogas plants. Water Sci. Technol. 52(1–2), 189–194 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Belmonte, M., Hsieh, C.F., Figueroa, C., Campos, J.L., Vidal, G.: Effect of free ammonia nitrogen on the methanogenic activity of swine wastewater. Electron. J. Biotechnol. 14(3), 2–2 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Chen, Y., Cheng, J.J., Creamer, K.S.: Inhibition of anaerobic digestion process: a review. Bioresour. Technol. 99(10), 4044–4064 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Rajagopal, R., Massé, D.I., Singh, G.: A critical review on inhibition of anaerobic digestion process by excess ammonia. Bioresour. Technol. 143, 632–641 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Duan, N., Dong, B., Wu, B., Dai, X.: High-solid anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge under mesophilic conditions: feasibility study. Bioresour. Technol. 104, 150–156 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Jabeen, M., Yousaf, S., Haider, M.R., Malik, R.N.: High-solids anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and rice husk at different organic loading rates. Int. Biodeter. Biodegr. 102, 149–153 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Isa, Z., Grusenmeyer, S., Verstraete, W.: Sulfate reduction relative to methane production in high-rate anaerobic digestion: microbiological aspects. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 51(3), 580–587 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Chen, S., Zhang, J., Wang, X.: Effects of alkalinity sources on the stability of anaerobic digestion from food waste. Waste Manag. Res. 33(11), 1033–1040 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Syaichurrozi, I.: Biogas production from co-digestion Salvinia molesta and rice straw and kinetics. Renew. Energy 115, 76–86 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Funding for this project by the Development Foundational Grant, North Dakota State University (NDSU), USA is highly appreciated. Also, support from NDSU Graduate School and Dean of CAFSNR are acknowledged. This work is also supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch project number ND01483. The Department of Animal Science at NDSU and the Animal Nutrition and Physiology Center (ANPC) are equally appreciated for providing space for the project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1221 Albrecht Boulevard, Fargo, USA

    A. A. Ajayi-Banji, S. Rahman & N. Nahar

  2. Department of Soil Science, North Dakota State University, 1402 Albrecht Blvd., Walster Hall, Fargo, USA

    L. Cihacek

Authors
  1. A. A. Ajayi-Banji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Rahman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. Cihacek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. Nahar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Rahman.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declared that they do not have any conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 255 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ajayi-Banji, A.A., Rahman, S., Cihacek, L. et al. Comparison of the Reactor Performance of Alkaline-Pretreated Corn Stover Co-digested with Dairy Manure Under Solid-State. Waste Biomass Valor 11, 5211–5222 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-020-01116-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-020-01116-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation