Thermal drying of the solid fraction from biogas digestate: effects of acidification, temperature and ventilation on nitrogen content

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Drying of solids produced from digestate is prone to N losses through NH3 volatilisation. The applicability of acidification as an NH3 emission mitigation technique during the drying of solids from digestate was assessed in a drying experiment. Operating conditions comprised four drying temperatures (70-160°C), two air ventilation rates (natural, 420ml/min) and three pH levels (9.2, 6.5 and 5.5) of the solids, modified by the addition of concentrated sulphuric acid. Acidification of the solids from digestate significantly decreased the NH3 emission during drying, irrespective of the drying conditions. A parallel decrease in the organic nitrogen content and an increase in the ammonium content of the solids was observed after acidification of the solids. It was confirmed that acidification before thermal concentration of solids from digestate, minimised NH3 losses under a wide range of drying conditions.

Original languageEnglish
JournalWaste Management
Volume48
Pages (from-to)218-226
Number of pages9
ISSN0956-053X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

    Research areas

  • Ammonia, Biofuels, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Hydrolysis, Nitrogen, Refuse Disposal, Solid Waste, Temperature, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

ID: 169105028