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Research on Biogas Yield from Macroalgae with Inoculants at Different Organic Loading Rates in a Three-Stage

Alvydas Zagorskis¹, Regimantas Dauknys², Mantas Pranskevičius¹

¹Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, 10223 Vilnius, Lithuania.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

|January 21, 2023

Summary

Macroalgae digestion in a three-stage bioreactor (TSB) yields optimal biogas production at a low organic loading rate (OLR) of 2.87 Kg VS/m³ d. This finding enhances the energy potential of biomass for a sustainable future.

Keywords:

anaerobic digestion biogas yield macroalgae organic load rate three-stage bioreactor

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Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Renewable Energy
Environmental Science

Background:

Macroalgae presents a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
Biogas production from macroalgae can significantly mitigate climate change.
Co-digestion with cattle manure and sewage sludge enhances biogas quality.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the biogas yield from Cladophora glomerata macroalgae using a three-stage bioreactor (TSB).
To determine the optimal organic loading rate (OLR) for maximizing biogas and methane yields.
To assess the biomass energy potential at different OLRs.

Main Methods:

Anaerobic digestion of Cladophora glomerata in a TSB with cattle manure and sewage sludge inoculants.
Testing of three organic loading rates: 2.87, 4.06, and 8.13 Kg VS/m³ d.
Measurement of biogas yield, methane yield, methane concentration, and biomass energy potential.

Main Results:

The highest biogas yield (439.0 ± 4.0 L/Kg VSadded) and methane yield (306.5 ± 9.2 L CH₄/Kg VSadded) were achieved at an OLR of 2.87 Kg VS/m³ d.
Increasing OLR to 4.06 and 8.13 Kg VS/m³ d resulted in a 1.55-fold decrease in biogas and methane yields.
Optimal decomposition of elements (C, N, H, S) occurred at 2.87 Kg VS/m³ d, leading to higher yields.
Methane concentration consistently remained high (68%-80%) across tested OLRs.
The maximum biomass energy potential was 3.05 kWh/Kg VSadded at the optimal OLR of 2.87 Kg VS/m³ d.

Conclusions:

An OLR of 2.87 Kg VS/m³ d is optimal for maximizing biogas and methane production from Cladophora glomerata in a TSB.
Optimizing OLR is crucial for enhancing the energy potential of macroalgae biomass.
This research supports the use of macroalgae as a viable feedstock for sustainable biogas production.