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Producing Biohythane from Urban Organic Wastes

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Abstract

This study investigated the advantages of the anaerobic codigestion process of two urban organic waste: the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes and the waste activated sludge produced during biological wastewater treatment. In particular, a comparison between mono and double stage anaerobic digestion for biogas and biohythane (hydrogen and methane) production, respectively, was conducted at thermophilic conditions in a pilot scale rig with a hydraulic retention time of 20 days. Considering yields, the specific gas productions for the single stage process was 490 l biogas per kg TVS fed to the system while in the two stage process hydrogen and methane productions reached average values of 24 LH2 and 570 LCH4 per kg VS fed to the system, respectively. Obtained biohythane, after upgrading, is particularly valuable for the automotive sector contributing to improve the combustion engine performance and to reduce the contaminants emissions in the atmosphere.

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Acknowledgements

The financial supports of Industria 2015 project (Ministry for Economic Development) and the WISE PRIN 2012 are gratefully acknowledged. The hospitality of the Treviso City Council and of Alto Trevigiano Servizi s.c.a.r.l. are kindly acknowledged.

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Correspondence to David Bolzonella.

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Bolzonella, D., Mıcoluccı, F., Battısta, F. et al. Producing Biohythane from Urban Organic Wastes. Waste Biomass Valor 11, 2367–2374 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-00569-7

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