Anaerobic digestion of microalgae residues resulting from the biodiesel production process

E. A. Ehimen, Z. F. Sun, C. G. Carrington, E. J. Birch, J. J. Eaton-Rye

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

222 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The recovery of methane from post transesterified microalgae residues has the potential to improve the renewability of the 'microalgae biomass to biodiesel' conversion process as well as reduce its cost and environmental impact. This paper deals with the anaerobic digestion of microalgae biomass residues (post transesterification) using semi-continuously fed reactors. The influence of substrate loading concentrations and hydraulic retention times on the specific methane yield of the anaerobically digested microalgae residues was investigated. The co-digestion of the microalgae residues with glycerol as well as the influence of temperature was also examined. It was found that the hydraulic retention period was the most significant variable affecting methane production from the residues, with periods (>5. days) corresponding to higher energy recovery. The methane yield was also improved by a reduction in the substrate loading rates, with an optimum substrate carbon to nitrogen ratio of 12.44 seen to be required for the digestion process.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3454-3463
Number of pages10
JournalApplied Energy
Volume88
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anaerobic digestion
  • Co-digestion
  • Glycerol
  • Methane
  • Microalgae residues

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