Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7063926 | Biomass and Bioenergy | 2015 | 4 Pages |
Abstract
Biogas production is increasing as a sustainable energy supply, with digestate resulting as a by-product of biogas plants. As a result, the high concentration of Clostridium spp. in digestate became a concern in dairy farming areas. Clostridium spores can contaminate soils and crops when digestate is used as fertilizer, causing a conflictual cohabitation of biogas with traditional cheese productions. In order to solve the problem, this study aimed to search for a technical solution enabling either a drastic reduction or the elimination of the content of Clostridium spp. within digestate. Results showed a complete elimination of Clostridium spp. in pelleted stored solid digestate; in addition, pelleting caused a reduction of pH and water mass fraction in terms of fresh weight, and a concentration of mineral nutrients compared to stored solid digestate. Pellet can represent a possible sustainable solution both in reducing potential risks linked to the presence of Clostridium spp. in digestate and in improving the transportation and distribution of high-value fertilizer. Hence, pelleting of solid digestate could offer a simple and efficient method to allow cohesistence of biogas plants and dairy farming.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Process Chemistry and Technology
Authors
Andrea Pulvirenti, Domenico Ronga, Massimo Zaghi, Anna Rita Tomasselli, Lorenzo Mannella, Nicola Pecchioni,