Greywater use in anaerobic digestion of cattle manure: Advancing biogas yield, energy efficiency, and digestate valorization for environmental sustainability in semi-arid regions
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.This study shows using domestic greywater (GW) with cattle manure (CM) in anaerobic digestion significantly boosts biogas production by up to 30%. This waste-to-energy solution also yields nutrient-rich digestate for agriculture, crucial for water-scarce regions.
Area Of Science
- Environmental Engineering
- Renewable Energy
- Waste Management
Background
- Semi-arid regions in Brazil face severe water scarcity, impacting 28 million people.
- Rural communities lack sanitation infrastructure (75% lack sewage treatment) and reliable water access.
- Developing water-efficient waste-to-energy solutions is a key scientific challenge.
Purpose Of The Study
- To assess the feasibility of using domestic greywater (GW) instead of conventional water in anaerobic co-digestion of cattle manure (CM).
- To evaluate this process under water-constrained, semi-arid conditions.
- To address energy security and environmental sustainability in water-scarce areas.
Main Methods
- Bench-scale bioreactors (350 mL) operated under mesophilic conditions (36°C ± 2°C).
- Systematic evaluation of varying GW dilution ratios (25%, 50%, 75%, 100% v/v) over 76 days.
- Biogas production kinetics analyzed using the modified Gompertz equation; physicochemical characterization and digestate phytotoxicity assays (Lactuca sativa) performed.
Main Results
- Maximum biogas production increased by up to 30% (from 951.9 mL/g VS in control to 1235.0 mL/g VS with 100% GW).
- Wobbe Index improved, indicating enhanced biogas quality (from 31.10 MJ/m³ to 53.29 MJ/m³ with 25% GW).
- Digestate showed biostimulant potential with germination indices >100% at 10% dilution, indicating suitability for agriculture.
Conclusions
- Greywater-assisted anaerobic digestion is a viable and effective solution for enhancing biogas yield under water-scarce conditions.
- This integrated approach offers a sustainable method for waste management and energy production in rural semi-arid regions.
- The process yields valuable digestate, promoting circular economy principles in agriculture.
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