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DatoValore
TitleEnergy efficiency improvement of thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion of Posidonia oceanica residues
AbstractPosidonia oceanica is the most abundant aquatic plant of the Mediterranean Sea where it plays great ecological importance. The accumulation of residues along the shore, however, creates a littering hardship for the territory due to their bad rotting smell and introduces an obstacle to the enjoyment of the beaches and tourist swimming. Posidonia oceanica residues may be valorized producing bioenergy by anaerobic digestion. Due to its high lignin content, however, a pretreatment step is required for enhance energy recovery. In the present study the effects of acid addition in the thermal hydrolysis step were evaluated in terms of energy balance, biogas production and solids reduction. The results obtained have shown that when thermal pretreatment was enhanced by adding hydrochloric acid (0.4% w/w), an improvement in methane production of 575% was obtained compared to thermal pretreatment only with specific biogas production as high as 0.241 ± 0.065 Nm per kgVS of wet Posidonia or 0.138 ± 0.056 Nm CH/kgVS. This result was ascribed to the defibration of lignocellulosic components operated by acidic thermal pretreatment which allowed the removal of 74%, 70% and 24% of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, respectively, during anaerobic digestion. The energy analysis carried out for treatment plants with capacity of 10 and 50 m/d has shown that acid addition in the thermal hydrolysis step allows the energy balance to turn from extremely negative (energy demand is 8 to 10 times greater than the one produced) to positive values, with process energy efficiencies ranging from 22 to 35% with regards to the size of the plant.
SourceApplied energy 252
KeywordsAcidic thermal pretreatmentAnaerobic digestionLignocellulosic biomassPosidonia oceanicaEnergy balanceProcess energy efficiency
JournalApplied energy
EditorApplied Science Publishers; [poi] Elsevier, London ; [poi] Amsterdam, Regno Unito
Year2019
TypeArticolo in rivista
DOI10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113457
AuthorsDe Sanctis M.; Chimienti S.; Pastore C.; Piergrossi V.; Di Iaconi C.
Text420992 2019 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113457 Scopus 2 s2.0 85067629627 ISI Web of Science WOS WOS 000497968000055 Acidic thermal pretreatment Anaerobic digestion Lignocellulosic biomass Posidonia oceanica Energy balance Process energy efficiency Energy efficiency improvement of thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion of Posidonia oceanica residues De Sanctis M.; Chimienti S.; Pastore C.; Piergrossi V.; Di Iaconi C. Water Research Institute, C.N.R, Viale F. De Blasio 5, Bari, 70123, Italy Posidonia oceanica is the most abundant aquatic plant of the Mediterranean Sea where it plays great ecological importance. The accumulation of residues along the shore, however, creates a littering hardship for the territory due to their bad rotting smell and introduces an obstacle to the enjoyment of the beaches and tourist swimming. Posidonia oceanica residues may be valorized producing bioenergy by anaerobic digestion. Due to its high lignin content, however, a pretreatment step is required for enhance energy recovery. In the present study the effects of acid addition in the thermal hydrolysis step were evaluated in terms of energy balance, biogas production and solids reduction. The results obtained have shown that when thermal pretreatment was enhanced by adding hydrochloric acid 0.4% w/w , an improvement in methane production of 575% was obtained compared to thermal pretreatment only with specific biogas production as high as 0.241 ± 0.065 Nm per kgVS of wet Posidonia or 0.138 ± 0.056 Nm CH/kgVS. This result was ascribed to the defibration of lignocellulosic components operated by acidic thermal pretreatment which allowed the removal of 74%, 70% and 24% of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, respectively, during anaerobic digestion. The energy analysis carried out for treatment plants with capacity of 10 and 50 m/d has shown that acid addition in the thermal hydrolysis step allows the energy balance to turn from extremely negative energy demand is 8 to 10 times greater than the one produced to positive values, with process energy efficiencies ranging from 22 to 35% with regards to the size of the plant. 252 Published version https //www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261919311316 via%3Dihub Energy efficiency improvement of thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion of Posidonia oceanica residues Versione pubblicata dell articolo De Sanctis et al.2019_Applied Energy.pdf Articolo in rivista Applied Science Publishers; poi Elsevier 0306 2619 Applied energy Applied energy Applied energy Appl. energy claudio.diiaconi DI IACONI CLAUDIO marco.desanctis DE SANCTIS MARCO