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Dr. Andrzej Bialowiec
Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Department of Applied Bioeconomy, Wrocław, Poland

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Journal article
Published: 20 August 2021 in Materials
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Excessive amounts of sodium cations (Na+) in water is an important limiting factor to reuse poor quality water in agriculture or industry, and recently, much attention has been paid to developing cost-effective and easily available water desalination technology that is not limited to natural resources. Biochar seems to be a promising solution for reducing high loads of inorganic contaminant from water and soil solution, and due to the high availability of biomass in agriculture and forestry, its production for these purposes may become beneficial. In the present research, wheat straw, sunflower husk, and pine-chip biochars produced at 250, 450 and 550 °C under simple torrefaction/pyrolysis conditions were chemically modified with ethanol or HCl to determine the effect of these activations on Na sorption capacity from aqueous solution. Biochar sorption property measurements, such as specific surface area, cation exchange capacity, content of base cations in exchangeable forms, and structural changes of biochar surface, were performed by FTIR and EPR spectrometry to study the effect of material chemical activation. The sorption capacity of biochars and activated carbons was investigated by performing batch sorption experiments, and adsorption isotherms were tested with Langmuir’s and Freundlich’s models. The results showed that biochar activation had significant effects on the sorption characteristics of Na+, increasing its capacity (even 10-folds) and inducing the mechanism of ion exchange between biochar and saline solution, especially when ethanol activation was applied. The findings of this study show that biochar produced through torrefaction with ethanol activation requires lower energy demand and carbon footprint and, therefore, is a promising method for studying material applications for environmental and industrial purposes.

ACS Style

Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek; María Luisa Álvarez; Andrzej Białowiec; Maria Jerzykiewicz. Characterization and Sodium Cations Sorption Capacity of Chemically Modified Biochars Produced from Agricultural and Forestry Wastes. Materials 2021, 14, 4714 .

AMA Style

Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek, María Luisa Álvarez, Andrzej Białowiec, Maria Jerzykiewicz. Characterization and Sodium Cations Sorption Capacity of Chemically Modified Biochars Produced from Agricultural and Forestry Wastes. Materials. 2021; 14 (16):4714.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek; María Luisa Álvarez; Andrzej Białowiec; Maria Jerzykiewicz. 2021. "Characterization and Sodium Cations Sorption Capacity of Chemically Modified Biochars Produced from Agricultural and Forestry Wastes." Materials 14, no. 16: 4714.

Journal article
Published: 26 July 2021 in Energies
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In this study, 12 organic waste materials were subjected to TG/DTG thermogravimetric analysis and DSC calorimetric analysis. These analyses provided basic information about thermochemical transformations and degradation rates during organic waste pyrolysis. Organic waste materials were divided into six basic groups as follows: paper, cardboard, textiles, plastics, hygiene waste, and biodegradable waste. For each group, two waste materials were selected to be studied. Research materials were (i) paper (receipts, cotton wool); (ii) cardboard (cardboard, egg carton); (iii) textiles (cotton, leather); (iv) plastics (polyethylene (PET), polyurethane (PU)); (v) hygiene waste (diapers, leno); and (vi) biodegradable waste (chicken meat, potato peel). Waste materials were chosen to represent the most abundant waste that can be found in the municipal solid waste stream. Based on TG results, kinetic parameters according to the Coats–Redfern method were determined. The pyrolysis activation energy was the highest for cotton, 134.5 kJ × (mol∙K)−1, and the lowest for leather, 25.2 kJ × (mol∙K)−1. The DSC analysis showed that a number of transformations occurred during pyrolysis for each material. For each transformation, the normalized energy required for transformation, or released during transformation, was determined, and then summarized to present the energy balance. The study found that the energy balance was negative for only three waste materials—PET (−220.1 J × g−1), leather (−66.8 J × g−1), and chicken meat (−130.3 J × g−1)—whereas the highest positive balance value was found for potato peelings (367.8 J × g−1). The obtained results may be applied for the modelling of energy and mass balance of municipal solid waste pyrolysis.

ACS Style

Ewa Syguła; Kacper Świechowski; Małgorzata Hejna; Ines Kunaszyk; Andrzej Białowiec. Municipal Solid Waste Thermal Analysis—Pyrolysis Kinetics and Decomposition Reactions. Energies 2021, 14, 4510 .

AMA Style

Ewa Syguła, Kacper Świechowski, Małgorzata Hejna, Ines Kunaszyk, Andrzej Białowiec. Municipal Solid Waste Thermal Analysis—Pyrolysis Kinetics and Decomposition Reactions. Energies. 2021; 14 (15):4510.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ewa Syguła; Kacper Świechowski; Małgorzata Hejna; Ines Kunaszyk; Andrzej Białowiec. 2021. "Municipal Solid Waste Thermal Analysis—Pyrolysis Kinetics and Decomposition Reactions." Energies 14, no. 15: 4510.

Review article
Published: 12 March 2021 in Journal of Environmental Management
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Phosphorus (P) is a limited yet essential resource. P cannot be replaced, but it can be recovered from waste. We proposed the TRIZ approach (Teoria reszenija izobretatielskich zadacz - Rus., Theory of Inventive Problem Solving - Eng.) to identify a feasible solution. We aimed at minimizing the environmental impact and, by eliminating contradictions, proposed viable technical solutions. P recovery can be more sustainable based on circular economy and 4Rs (reduction, recovery, reuse, and recycling). The TRIZ approach identified sewage sludge (SS) as waste with a large potential for P recovery (up to 90%). Successful selection and application of SS management and P recovery require a transdisciplinary approach to overcome the various socio-economic, environmental, technical, and legal aspects. The review provides an understanding of principles that must be taken to improve understanding of the whole process of P recovery from wastewater while building on the last two decades of research.

ACS Style

Anna Jama-Rodzeńska; Andrzej Białowiec; Jacek A. Koziel; Józef Sowiński. Waste to phosphorus: A transdisciplinary solution to P recovery from wastewater based on the TRIZ approach. Journal of Environmental Management 2021, 287, 112235 .

AMA Style

Anna Jama-Rodzeńska, Andrzej Białowiec, Jacek A. Koziel, Józef Sowiński. Waste to phosphorus: A transdisciplinary solution to P recovery from wastewater based on the TRIZ approach. Journal of Environmental Management. 2021; 287 ():112235.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anna Jama-Rodzeńska; Andrzej Białowiec; Jacek A. Koziel; Józef Sowiński. 2021. "Waste to phosphorus: A transdisciplinary solution to P recovery from wastewater based on the TRIZ approach." Journal of Environmental Management 287, no. : 112235.

Journal article
Published: 03 March 2021 in Energies
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Advanced technologies call for composting indoors for minimized impact on the surrounding environment. However, enclosing compost piles inside halls may cause the accumulation of toxic pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO). Thus, there is a need to assess the occupational risk to workers that can be exposed to CO concentrations > 300 ppm at the initial stage of the process. The objectives were to (1) develop a model of CO accumulation in the headspace of the bioreactor during organic waste composting and (2) assess the impact of headspace ventilation of enclosed compost. The maximum allowable CO level inside the bioreactor headspace for potential short-term occupational exposure up to 10 min was 100 ppm. The composting was modeled in the horizontal static reactor over 14 days in seven scenarios, differing in the ratio of headspace-to-waste volumes (H:W) (4:1, 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4). Headspace CO concentration exceeded 100 ppm in each variant with the maximum value of 36.1% without ventilation and 3.2% with the daily release of accumulated CO. The airflow necessary to maintain CO < 100 ppmv should be at least 7.15 m3·(h·Mg w.m.)−1. The H:W > 4:1 and the height of compost pile < 1 m were less susceptible to CO accumulation.

ACS Style

Karolina Sobieraj; Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska; Jacek Koziel; Andrzej Białowiec. Modeling of CO Accumulation in the Headspace of the Bioreactor during Organic Waste Composting. Energies 2021, 14, 1367 .

AMA Style

Karolina Sobieraj, Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska, Jacek Koziel, Andrzej Białowiec. Modeling of CO Accumulation in the Headspace of the Bioreactor during Organic Waste Composting. Energies. 2021; 14 (5):1367.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Karolina Sobieraj; Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska; Jacek Koziel; Andrzej Białowiec. 2021. "Modeling of CO Accumulation in the Headspace of the Bioreactor during Organic Waste Composting." Energies 14, no. 5: 1367.

Journal article
Published: 03 March 2021 in Materials
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In work, data from carbonization of the eight main municipal solid waste components (carton, fabric, kitchen waste, paper, plastic, rubber, paper/aluminum/polyethylene (PAP/AL/PE) composite packaging pack, wood) carbonized at 300–500 °C for 20–60 min were used to build regression models to predict the biochar properties (proximate and ultimate analysis) for particular components. These models were then combined in general models that predict the properties of char made from mixed waste components depending on pyrolysis temperature, residence time, and share of municipal solid waste components. Next, the general models were compared with experimental data (two mixtures made from the above-mentioned components carbonized at the same conditions). The comparison showed that most of the proposed general models had a determination coefficient (R2) over 0.6, and the best prediction was found for the prediction of biochar mass yield (R2 = 0.9). All models were implemented into a spreadsheet to provide a simple tool to determine the potential of carbonization of municipal solid waste/refuse solid fuel based on a local mix of major components.

ACS Style

Kacper Świechowski; Paweł Stępień; Ewa Syguła; Jacek Koziel; Andrzej Białowiec. Lab-Scale Study of Temperature and Duration Effects on Carbonized Solid Fuels Properties Produced from Municipal Solid Waste Components. Materials 2021, 14, 1191 .

AMA Style

Kacper Świechowski, Paweł Stępień, Ewa Syguła, Jacek Koziel, Andrzej Białowiec. Lab-Scale Study of Temperature and Duration Effects on Carbonized Solid Fuels Properties Produced from Municipal Solid Waste Components. Materials. 2021; 14 (5):1191.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kacper Świechowski; Paweł Stępień; Ewa Syguła; Jacek Koziel; Andrzej Białowiec. 2021. "Lab-Scale Study of Temperature and Duration Effects on Carbonized Solid Fuels Properties Produced from Municipal Solid Waste Components." Materials 14, no. 5: 1191.

Journal article
Published: 11 January 2021 in Atmosphere
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Rural communities are affected by gaseous emissions from intensive livestock production. Practical mitigation technologies are needed to minimize emissions from stored manure and improve air quality inside barns. In our previous research, the one-time surficial application of biochar to swine manure significantly reduced emissions of NH3 and phenol. We observed that the mitigation effect decreased with time during the 30-day trials. In this research, we hypothesized that bi-weekly reapplication of biochar could improve the mitigation effect on a wider range of odorous compounds using a larger scale and longer trials. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of biochar dose and reapplication on mitigation of targeted gases (NH3, odorous, volatile organic compounds VOCs, odor, greenhouse gases (GHG)) from stored swine manure on a pilot-scale setup over 8-weeks. The bi-weekly reapplication of the lower biochar dose (2 kg/m2) showed much higher significant percentage reductions in emissions for NH3 (33% without and 53% with reapplication) and skatole (42% without and 80% with reapplication), respectively. In addition, the reapplication resulted in the emergence of a statistical significance to the mitigation effect for all other targeted VOCs. Specifically, for indole, the percentage reduction improved from 38% (p = 0.47, without reapplication) to 78% (p = 0.018, with reapplication). For phenol, the percentage reduction improved from 28% (p = 0.71, without reapplication) to 89% (p = 0.005, with reapplication). For p-cresol, the percentage reduction improved from 31% (p = 0.86, without reapplication) to 74% (p = 0.028, with reapplication). For 4-ethyl phenol, the percentage emissions reduction improved from 66% (p = 0.44, without reapplication) to 87% (p = 0.007, with reapplication). The one-time 2 kg/m2 and 4 kg/m2 treatments showed similar effectiveness in mitigating all targeted gases, and no statistical difference was found between the dosages. The one-time treatments showed significant percentage reductions of 33% and 42% and 25% and 48% for NH3 and skatole, respectively. The practical significance is that the higher (one-time) biochar dose may not necessarily result in improved performance over the 8-week manure storage, but the bi-weekly reapplication showed significant improvement in mitigating NH3 and odorous VOCs. The lower dosages and the frequency of reapplication on the larger-scale should be explored to optimize biochar treatment and bring it closer to on-farm trials.

ACS Style

Baitong Chen; Jacek Koziel; Chumki Banik; Hantian Ma; Myeongseong Lee; Samuel O’Brien; Peiyang Li; Daniel Andersen; Andrzej Białowiec; Robert Brown. Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Stored Swine Manure with Biochar: Effect of Dose and Reapplication on a Pilot-Scale. Atmosphere 2021, 12, 96 .

AMA Style

Baitong Chen, Jacek Koziel, Chumki Banik, Hantian Ma, Myeongseong Lee, Samuel O’Brien, Peiyang Li, Daniel Andersen, Andrzej Białowiec, Robert Brown. Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Stored Swine Manure with Biochar: Effect of Dose and Reapplication on a Pilot-Scale. Atmosphere. 2021; 12 (1):96.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Baitong Chen; Jacek Koziel; Chumki Banik; Hantian Ma; Myeongseong Lee; Samuel O’Brien; Peiyang Li; Daniel Andersen; Andrzej Białowiec; Robert Brown. 2021. "Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Stored Swine Manure with Biochar: Effect of Dose and Reapplication on a Pilot-Scale." Atmosphere 12, no. 1: 96.

Communication
Published: 24 December 2020 in Materials
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The decrease in the calorific value of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) is an unintended outcome of the progress made toward more sustainable waste management. Plastics and paper separation and recycling leads to the overall decrease in waste’s calorific value, further limiting its applicability for thermal treatment. Pyrolysis has been proposed to densify energy in RDF and generate carbonized solid fuel (CSF). The challenge is that the feedstock composition of RDF is variable and site-specific. Therefore, the optimal pyrolysis conditions have to be established every time, depending on feedstock composition. In this research, we developed a model to predict the higher heating value (HHV) of the RDF composed of eight morphological refuse groups after low-temperature pyrolysis in CO2 (300–500 °C and 60 min) into CSF. The model considers cardboard, fabric, kitchen waste, paper, plastic, rubber, PAP/AL/PE (paper/aluminum/polyethylene) composite packaging pack, and wood, pyrolysis temperature, and residence time. The determination coefficients (R2) and Akaike information criteria were used for selecting the best model among four mathematical functions: (I) linear, (II) second-order polynomial, (III) factorial regression, and (IV) quadratic regression. For each RDF waste component, among these four models, the one best fitted to the experimental data was chosen; then, these models were integrated into the general model that predicts the HHV of CSF from the blends of RDF. The general model was validated experimentally by the application to the RDF blends. The validation revealed that the model explains 70–75% CSF HHV data variability. The results show that the optimal pyrolysis conditions depend on the most abundant waste in the waste mixture. High-quality CSF can be obtained from wastes such as paper, carton, plastic, and rubber when processed at relatively low temperatures (300 °C), whereas wastes such as fabrics and wood require higher temperatures (500 °C). The developed model showed that it is possible to achieve the CSF with the highest HHV value by optimizing the pyrolysis of RDF with the process temperature, residence time, and feedstock blends pretreatment.

ACS Style

Ewa Syguła; Kacper Świechowski; Paweł Stępień; Jacek A. Koziel; Andrzej Białowiec. The Prediction of Calorific Value of Carbonized Solid Fuel Produced from Refuse-Derived Fuel in the Low-Temperature Pyrolysis in CO2. Materials 2020, 14, 49 .

AMA Style

Ewa Syguła, Kacper Świechowski, Paweł Stępień, Jacek A. Koziel, Andrzej Białowiec. The Prediction of Calorific Value of Carbonized Solid Fuel Produced from Refuse-Derived Fuel in the Low-Temperature Pyrolysis in CO2. Materials. 2020; 14 (1):49.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ewa Syguła; Kacper Świechowski; Paweł Stępień; Jacek A. Koziel; Andrzej Białowiec. 2020. "The Prediction of Calorific Value of Carbonized Solid Fuel Produced from Refuse-Derived Fuel in the Low-Temperature Pyrolysis in CO2." Materials 14, no. 1: 49.

Preprint
Published: 24 December 2020
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The rural communities are affected by gaseous emissions from intensive livestock production. Practical mitigation technologies are needed to minimize emissions from stored manure and improve air quality inside barns. In our previous research, the one-time surficial application of biochar to swine manure significantly reduced emissions of NH3 and phenol. We observed that the mitigation effect decreased with time during the 30-day trials. In this research, we hypothe-sized that bi-weekly reapplication of biochar could improve the mitigation effect on a wider range of odorous compounds using larger scale and longer trials. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of biochar dose and reapplication on mitigation of targeted gases (NH3, odor-ous VOCs, odor, GHGs) from stored swine manure on a pilot-scale setup over 8-weeks. The bi-weekly reapplication of the lower biochar dose (2 kg/m2) showed much higher significant percent reductions of emissions for NH3 (33% without & 53% with reapplication) and skatole (42% without & 80% with reapplication), respectively. In addition, the reapplication resulted in the emergence of statistical significance to the mitigation effect for all other targeted VOCs. Spe-cifically, for indole, the % reduction improved from 38% (p=0.47, without reapplication) to 78% (p=0.018, with reapplication). For phenol, the % reduction improved from 28% (p=0.71, without reapplication) to 89% (p=0.005, with reapplication). For p-cresol, the % reduction improved from 31% (p=0.86, without reapplication) to 74% (p=0.028, with reapplication). For 4-ethyl phenol, the percent emissions reduction improved from 66% (p=0.44, without reapplication) to 87% (p=0.007, with reapplication). The one-time 2 kg/m2 and 4 kg/m2 treatments showed similar effectiveness in mitigating all targeted gases, and no statistical difference was found between the dosages. The one-time treatments showed significant % reductions of 33% & 42% and 25% & 48% for NH3 and skatole, respectively. The practical significance is that the higher (one-time) biochar dose may not necessarily result in improved performance over the 8-week manure storage, but the bi-weekly reapplication showed significant improvement in mitigating NH3 and odorous VOCs. The lower dosages and the frequency of reapplication on the larger-scale should be explored to optimize biochar treatment and bring it closer to on-farm trials.

ACS Style

Baitong Chen; Jacek A. Koziel; Chumki Banik; Hantian Ma; Myeongseong Lee; Samuel C. O'brien; Peiyang Li; Daniel S. Andersen; Andrzej Białowiec; Robert C. Brown. Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Stored Swine Manure with Biochar: Effect of Dose and Reapplication on A Pilot-Scale. 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Baitong Chen, Jacek A. Koziel, Chumki Banik, Hantian Ma, Myeongseong Lee, Samuel C. O'brien, Peiyang Li, Daniel S. Andersen, Andrzej Białowiec, Robert C. Brown. Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Stored Swine Manure with Biochar: Effect of Dose and Reapplication on A Pilot-Scale. . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Baitong Chen; Jacek A. Koziel; Chumki Banik; Hantian Ma; Myeongseong Lee; Samuel C. O'brien; Peiyang Li; Daniel S. Andersen; Andrzej Białowiec; Robert C. Brown. 2020. "Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Stored Swine Manure with Biochar: Effect of Dose and Reapplication on A Pilot-Scale." , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2020 in Atmosphere
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Environmental impact associated with odor and gaseous emissions from animal manure is one of the challenges for communities, farmers, and regulatory agencies. Microbe-based manure additives treatments are marketed and used by farmers for mitigation of emissions. However, their performance is difficult to assess objectively. Thus, comprehensive, practical, and low-cost treatments are still in demand. We have been advancing such treatments based on physicochemical principles. The objective of this research was to test the effect of the surficial application of a thin layer (¼ inches; 6.3 mm) of biochar on the mitigation of gaseous emissions (as the percent reduction, % R) from swine manure. Two types of biochar were tested: highly alkaline and porous (HAP) biochar made from corn stover and red oak (RO), both with different pH and morphology. Three 30-day trials were conducted with a layer of HAP and RO (2.0 & 1.65 kg∙m−2, respectively) applied on manure surface, and emissions of ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), greenhouse gases (GHG), and odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured. The manure and biochar type and properties had an impact on the mitigation effect and its duration. RO significantly reduced NH3 (19–39%) and p-cresol (66–78%). H2S was mitigated (16~23%), but not significantly for all trials. The phenolic VOCs had relatively high % R in most trials but not significantly for all trials. HAP reduced NH3 (4~21%) and H2S (2~22%), but not significantly for all trials. Significant % R for p-cresol (91~97%) and skatole (74~95%) were observed for all trials. The % R for phenol and indole ranged from (60~99%) and (29~94%) but was not significant for all trials. The impact on GHGs, isobutyric acid, and the odor was mixed with some mitigation and generation effects. However, larger-scale experiments are needed to understand how biochar properties and the dose and frequency of application can be optimized to mitigate odor and gaseous emissions from swine manure. The lessons learned can also be applicable to surficial biochar treatment of gaseous emissions from other waste and area sources.

ACS Style

Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly; Jacek Koziel; Baitong Chen; Andrzej Białowiec; Myeongseong Lee; Jisoo Wi; Chumki Banik; Robert Brown; Santanu Bakshi. Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Swine Manure with the Surficial Application of Biochars. Atmosphere 2020, 11, 1179 .

AMA Style

Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly, Jacek Koziel, Baitong Chen, Andrzej Białowiec, Myeongseong Lee, Jisoo Wi, Chumki Banik, Robert Brown, Santanu Bakshi. Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Swine Manure with the Surficial Application of Biochars. Atmosphere. 2020; 11 (11):1179.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly; Jacek Koziel; Baitong Chen; Andrzej Białowiec; Myeongseong Lee; Jisoo Wi; Chumki Banik; Robert Brown; Santanu Bakshi. 2020. "Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Swine Manure with the Surficial Application of Biochars." Atmosphere 11, no. 11: 1179.

Journal article
Published: 27 October 2020 in Energies
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The present study sought to investigate the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) during aerobic biostabilization (AB) of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) in forced aerated piles. Understanding the factors influencing CO formation may be important not only for safety, but also for environmental and technical reasons. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of the technical parameters of the piles on the concentration of CO in the process gas during AB of the OFMSW in a full-scale waste treatment system: rate of waste aeration (from 3365 to 12,744 m3∙Mg−1), waste mass loads in the pile (from 391 to 702 Mg), thermal conditions, application of sidewalls as an element of pile bioreactor construction, concentration of O2 and CO2 in the waste piles and the duration of the process from 6 to 9 weeks. The temperature and concentration of O2, CO2, CO, CH4 were measured in each pile at weekly intervals. All six reactors provide stable thermal and aerobic conditions, but the presence of CO was observed, ranging from a few to over 2000 ppm, which demonstrated that ensuring optimum conditions for the process is not sufficient for CO to be eliminated. A moderate, non-linear rise in CO concentration was observed along with a rise in the temperature inside the reactors. Concentrations of CO were not highly correlated with those of O2 or CO2. An increase in waste mass loads increased the CO concentration in waste piles, while application of sidewalls decreased CO concentration. Increasing aeration rate had an influence on CO production, and the highest CO concentrations were noted under air flow rate 5.3 m3.Mg−1·h−1.

ACS Style

Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska; Peter F. Randerson; Sarah R. Christofides; Andrzej Białowiec. Carbon Monoxide Formation During Aerobic Biostabilization of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste: The Influence of Technical Parameters in a Full-Scale Treatment System. Energies 2020, 13, 5624 .

AMA Style

Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska, Peter F. Randerson, Sarah R. Christofides, Andrzej Białowiec. Carbon Monoxide Formation During Aerobic Biostabilization of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste: The Influence of Technical Parameters in a Full-Scale Treatment System. Energies. 2020; 13 (21):5624.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska; Peter F. Randerson; Sarah R. Christofides; Andrzej Białowiec. 2020. "Carbon Monoxide Formation During Aerobic Biostabilization of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste: The Influence of Technical Parameters in a Full-Scale Treatment System." Energies 13, no. 21: 5624.

Preprint
Published: 26 October 2020
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Environmental impact associated with odor and gaseous emissions from animal manure is one of the challenges for communities, farmers, and regulatory agencies. Microbe-based manure additives treatments are marketed and used by farmers for mitigation of emissions. However, their performance is difficult to assess objectively. Thus, comprehensive, practical, and low-cost treatments are still in demand. We have been advancing such treatments based on physicochemical principles. The objective of this research was to test the effect of the surficial application of a thin layer (¼"; 6.3 mm) of biochar on the mitigation of gaseous emissions (as the percent reduction, % R) from swine manure. Two types of biochar were tested: highly alkaline and porous (HAP) biochar made from corn stover and red oak (RO), both with different pH and morphology. Three 30-day trials were conducted with a layer of HAP and RO (2.0 & 1.65 kg∙m-2, respectively) applied on manure surface, and emissions of ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), greenhouse gases (GHG), and odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured. The manure and biochar type and properties had an impact on the mitigation effect and its duration. RO significantly reduced NH3 (19-39%) and p-cresol (66-78%). H2S was mitigated (16~23%), but not significantly for all trials. Significant (66~78%) reductions for p-cresol were observed for all trials. The phenolic VOCs had relatively high % R in most trials but not significantly for all trials. HAP reduced NH3 (4~21%) and H2S (2~22%), but not significantly for all trials. Significant % R for p-cresol (91~97%) and skatole (74~95%) were observed for all trials. The % R for phenol and indole ranged from (60~99%) & (29~94%) but was not significant for all trials. The impact on GHGs, isobutyric acid, and the odor was mixed with some mitigation and generation effects. However, larger-scale experiments are needed to understand how biochar properties and the dose and frequency of application can be optimized to mitigate odor and gaseous emissions from swine manure. The lessons learned can also be applicable to surficial biochar treatment of gaseous emissions from other waste and area sources.

ACS Style

Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly; Jacek A. Koziel; Baitong Chen; Andrzej Białowiec; Myeongseong Lee; Jisoo Wi; Chumki Banik; Robert C. Brown; Santanu Bakshi. Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Swine Manure with the Surficial Application of Biochars. 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly, Jacek A. Koziel, Baitong Chen, Andrzej Białowiec, Myeongseong Lee, Jisoo Wi, Chumki Banik, Robert C. Brown, Santanu Bakshi. Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Swine Manure with the Surficial Application of Biochars. . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly; Jacek A. Koziel; Baitong Chen; Andrzej Białowiec; Myeongseong Lee; Jisoo Wi; Chumki Banik; Robert C. Brown; Santanu Bakshi. 2020. "Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions from Swine Manure with the Surficial Application of Biochars." , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 19 October 2020 in Energies
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Knowledge of kinetic parameters of CO production during biowaste composting is significantly important for the prediction of its course and estimation of total gas quantity. This allows increasing the control of the process, to minimize its negative impact on the environment and to protect the occupational safety of employees exposed to CO in the biowaste composting plant. For the first time, a full study of the influence of temperature and biowaste sterilization on the kinetics of CO production is presented. The lab-scale experiments used a mixture of green waste, dairy cattle manure, and sawdust in two variants: sterilized and non-sterilized samples. The process was carried out in controlled temperature reactors with measuring the concentrations of CO, O2, and CO2 every 12 h.CO production and k value increased with temperature. However, higher CO production was observed in biotic conditions between 10~50 °C, suggesting the biotic CO formation and 1st-order kinetics. The abiotic (thermochemical) process was more efficiently generating CO above 50 °C, described with a 0-order kinetic model. Additionally, the rate constant (k) value of CO production under biotic conditions was increasing up to a temperature of 60 °C, above which a slight decrease in CO production rate was observed at 70 °C. The presented results are the basis for further studies focused on the feasibility of (1) the mitigation and (2) valorization of CO production during the biowaste biostabilization are warranted.

ACS Style

Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska; Karolina Sobieraj; Jacek A. Koziel; Jerzy Bieniek; Andrzej Białowiec. Kinetics of Biotic and Abiotic CO Production during the Initial Phase of Biowaste Composting. Energies 2020, 13, 5451 .

AMA Style

Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska, Karolina Sobieraj, Jacek A. Koziel, Jerzy Bieniek, Andrzej Białowiec. Kinetics of Biotic and Abiotic CO Production during the Initial Phase of Biowaste Composting. Energies. 2020; 13 (20):5451.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska; Karolina Sobieraj; Jacek A. Koziel; Jerzy Bieniek; Andrzej Białowiec. 2020. "Kinetics of Biotic and Abiotic CO Production during the Initial Phase of Biowaste Composting." Energies 13, no. 20: 5451.

Communication
Published: 09 October 2020 in Processes
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Reed-Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud, an aquatic plant, commonly used in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment, supplies oxygen into the subsurface environment. Reed may be used as a ‘green machine’ in the form of a floating vegetation cover with many applications: wastewater lagoons, manure lagoons or sewage sludge lagoons. An important measure of the performance of the plant system is the oxygen transfer capacity (OTC). Accurate prediction of the OTC in relation to reed biomass would be crucial in modelling its influence on organic matter degradation and ammonia–nitrogen oxygenation in such lagoons. Laboratory experiments aiming to determine OTC and its dependence on reed biomass were carried out. Eight plants with a total dry mass ranging from approximately 3 to 7 g were tested. Mean OTC was determined per plant: 0.18 ± 0.21 (g O2.m-3.h-1.plant-1), with respect to leaves-and-stem dry mass (dlsm): 44.91 ± 35.21 (g O2.m-3.h-1.g dlsm-1), and to total dry mass (dtm): 33.25 ± 27.97 (g O2.m-3.h-1.g dtm-1). In relation to the relatively small root dry mass (drm), the OTC value was 136.02 ± 147.19 (g O2.m-3.h-1.g drm-1). Measured OTC values varied widely between the individual plants (variation coefficient 115%), in accordance with their differing size. Oxygenation performance was greatest in the reed plants with larger above ground dry mass (>4 g dlsm), but no influence of the root dry mass on the OTC rate was found.

ACS Style

Antonio Albuquerque; Peter Randerson; Andrzej Białowiec. Oxygen Transfer Capacity as a Measure of Water Aeration by Floating Reed Plants: Initial Laboratory Studies. Processes 2020, 8, 1270 .

AMA Style

Antonio Albuquerque, Peter Randerson, Andrzej Białowiec. Oxygen Transfer Capacity as a Measure of Water Aeration by Floating Reed Plants: Initial Laboratory Studies. Processes. 2020; 8 (10):1270.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonio Albuquerque; Peter Randerson; Andrzej Białowiec. 2020. "Oxygen Transfer Capacity as a Measure of Water Aeration by Floating Reed Plants: Initial Laboratory Studies." Processes 8, no. 10: 1270.

Journal article
Published: 14 September 2020 in Energies
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This paper provides a comprehensive description of the new approach to biomass torrefaction under high-pressure conditions. A new type of laboratory-scale high-pressure reactor was designed and built. The aim of the study was to compare the high-pressure torrefaction with conventional near atmospheric pressure torrefaction. Specifically, we investigated the torrefaction process influence on the fuel properties of wooden-pellet for two different pressure regimes up to 15 bar. All torrefaction processes were conducted at 300 °C, at 30 min of residence time. The initial analysis of the increased pressure impact on the torrefaction parameters: mass yields, energy densification ratio, energy yield, process energy consumption, the proximate analysis, high heating value, and energy needed to grind torrefied pellets was completed. The results show that high-pressure torrefaction needed up to six percent less energy, whereas energy densification in the pellet was ~12% higher compared to conventional torrefaction. The presence of pressure during torrefaction did not have an impact on the energy required for pellet grinding (p < 0.05).

ACS Style

Bartosz Matyjewicz; Kacper Świechowski; Jacek A. Koziel; Andrzej Białowiec. Proof-of-Concept of High-Pressure Torrefaction for Improvement of Pelletized Biomass Fuel Properties and Process Cost Reduction. Energies 2020, 13, 4790 .

AMA Style

Bartosz Matyjewicz, Kacper Świechowski, Jacek A. Koziel, Andrzej Białowiec. Proof-of-Concept of High-Pressure Torrefaction for Improvement of Pelletized Biomass Fuel Properties and Process Cost Reduction. Energies. 2020; 13 (18):4790.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bartosz Matyjewicz; Kacper Świechowski; Jacek A. Koziel; Andrzej Białowiec. 2020. "Proof-of-Concept of High-Pressure Torrefaction for Improvement of Pelletized Biomass Fuel Properties and Process Cost Reduction." Energies 13, no. 18: 4790.

Communication
Published: 01 September 2020 in Energies
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The bioethanol industry continues improving sustainability, specifically focused on plant energy and GHG emission management. Dried distiller grains with solubles (DDGS) is a byproduct of ethanol fermentation and is used for animal feed. DDGS is a relatively low-value bulk product that decays, causes odor, and is challenging to manage. The aim of this research was to find an alternative, value-added-type concept for DDGS utilization. Specifically, we aimed to explore the techno-economic feasibility of torrefaction, i.e., a thermochemical treatment of DDGS requiring low energy input, less sophisticated equipment, and resulting in fuel-quality biochar. Therefore, we developed a research model that addresses both bioethanol production sustainability and profitability due to synergy with the torrefaction of DDGS and using produced biochar as marketable fuel for the plant. Our experiments showed that DDGS-based biochar (CSF—carbonized solid fuel) lower calorific value may reach up to 27 MJ∙kg−1 d.m. (dry matter) Specific research questions addressed were: What monetary profits and operational cost reductions could be expected from valorizing DDGS as a source of marketable biorenewable energy, which may be used for bioethanol production plant’s demand? What environmental and financial benefits could be expected from valorizing DDGS to biochar and its reuse for natural gas substitution? Modeling indicated that the valorized CSF could be produced and used as a source of energy for the bioethanol production plant. The use of heat generated from CSF incineration supplies the entire heat demand of the torrefaction unit and the heat demand of bioethanol production (15–30% of the mass of CSF and depending on the lower heating value (LHV) of the CSF produced). The excess of 70–85% of the CSF produced has the potential to be marketed for energetic, agricultural, and other applications. Preliminary results show the relationship between the reduction of the environmental footprint (~24% reduction in CO2 emissions) with the introduction of comprehensive on-site valorization of DDGS. The application of DDGS torrefaction and CSF recycling may be a source of the new, more valuable revenues and bring new perspectives to the bioethanol industry to be more sustainable and profitable, including during the COVID-19 pandemic and other shocks to market conditions.

ACS Style

Samuel O’Brien; Jacek A. Koziel; Chumki Banik; Andrzej Białowiec. Synergy of Thermochemical Treatment of Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles with Bioethanol Production for Increased Sustainability and Profitability. Energies 2020, 13, 4528 .

AMA Style

Samuel O’Brien, Jacek A. Koziel, Chumki Banik, Andrzej Białowiec. Synergy of Thermochemical Treatment of Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles with Bioethanol Production for Increased Sustainability and Profitability. Energies. 2020; 13 (17):4528.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Samuel O’Brien; Jacek A. Koziel; Chumki Banik; Andrzej Białowiec. 2020. "Synergy of Thermochemical Treatment of Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles with Bioethanol Production for Increased Sustainability and Profitability." Energies 13, no. 17: 4528.

Communication
Published: 16 August 2020 in Catalysts
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Acute releases of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are of serious concern in agriculture, especially when farmers agitate manure to empty storage pits before land application. Agitation can cause the release of dangerously high H2S concentrations, resulting in human and animal fatalities. To date, there is no proven technology to mitigate these short-term releases of toxic gas from manure. In our previous research, we have shown that biochar, a highly porous carbonaceous material, can float on manure and mitigate gaseous emissions over extended periods (days–weeks). In this research, we aim to test the hypothesis that biochar can mitigate H2S emissions over short periods (minutes–hours) during and shortly after manure agitation. The objective was to conduct proof-of-the-concept experiments simulating the treatment of agitated manure. Two biochars, highly alkaline and porous (HAP, pH 9.2) made from corn stover and red oak (RO, pH 7.5), were tested. Three scenarios (setups): Control (no biochar), 6 mm, and 12 mm thick layers of biochar were surficially-applied to the manure. Each setup experienced 3 min of manure agitation. Real-time concentrations of H2S were measured immediately before, during, and after agitation until the concentration returned to the initial state. The results were compared with those of the Control using the following three metrics: (1) the maximum (peak) flux, (2) total emission from the start of agitation until the concentration stabilized, and (3) the total emission during the 3 min of agitation. The Gompertz’s model for determination of the cumulative H2S emission kinetics was developed. Here, 12 mm HAP biochar treatment reduced the peak (1) by 42.5% (p = 0.125), reduced overall total emission (2) by 17.9% (p = 0.290), and significantly reduced the total emission during 3 min agitation (3) by 70.4%. Further, 6 mm HAP treatment reduced the peak (1) by 60.6%, and significantly reduced overall (2) and 3 min agitation’s (3) total emission by 64.4% and 66.6%, respectively. Moreover, 12 mm RO biochar treatment reduced the peak (1) by 23.6%, and significantly reduced overall (2) and 3 min total (3) emission by 39.3% and 62.4%, respectively. Finally, 6 mm RO treatment significantly reduced the peak (1) by 63%, overall total emission (2) by 84.7%, and total emission during 3 min agitation (3) by 67.4%. Biochar treatments have the potential to reduce the risk of inhalation exposure to H2S. Both 6 and 12 mm biochar treatments reduced the peak H2S concentrations below the General Industrial Peak Limit (OSHA PEL, 50 ppm). The 6 mm biochar treatments reduced the H2S concentrations below the General Industry Ceiling Limit (OSHA PEL, 20 ppm). Research scaling up to larger manure volumes and longer agitation is warranted.

ACS Style

Baitong Chen; Jacek Koziel; Andrzej Białowiec; Myeongseong Lee; Hantian Ma; Peiyang Li; Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly; Robert Brown. The Impact of Surficial Biochar Treatment on Acute H2S Emissions during Swine Manure Agitation before Pump-Out: Proof-of-the-Concept. Catalysts 2020, 10, 940 .

AMA Style

Baitong Chen, Jacek Koziel, Andrzej Białowiec, Myeongseong Lee, Hantian Ma, Peiyang Li, Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly, Robert Brown. The Impact of Surficial Biochar Treatment on Acute H2S Emissions during Swine Manure Agitation before Pump-Out: Proof-of-the-Concept. Catalysts. 2020; 10 (8):940.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Baitong Chen; Jacek Koziel; Andrzej Białowiec; Myeongseong Lee; Hantian Ma; Peiyang Li; Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly; Robert Brown. 2020. "The Impact of Surficial Biochar Treatment on Acute H2S Emissions during Swine Manure Agitation before Pump-Out: Proof-of-the-Concept." Catalysts 10, no. 8: 940.

Journal article
Published: 11 August 2020 in Materials
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Improved technologies are needed for sustainable management of sewage sludge (SS). The torrefaction (also known as biomass “roasting”) is considered a pretreatment of SS before use in agriculture. However, it is not known whether the torrefaction has the potential to decrease heavy metals’ (HMs) leachability and the SS toxicity. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate the influences of the SS torrefaction parameters (temperature and process time) on HM contents in biochar, HM leachability, and biochar toxicity, and compare them with raw SS. The experiments were designed in 18 combinations (six temperatures, 200, 220, 240, 260, 280, and 300 °C; and three process times—20, 40, 60 min). Standard tests were used to determine HMs content, leachability, and toxicity. Results indicated that the torrefaction did not increase (p < 0.05) the HM content in comparison to the raw SS. The leachability of Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr, and Mn from SS biochars was similar to raw SS. However, the degree of leachability varied significantly (p < 0.05) from as low as 0.1% for Cu to high as 16.7% for Cd. The leachability of Cd (p < 0.05) increased the Daphnia magna Straus mobility inhibition by up to 100% in comparison to the biochar obtained during 40 and 60 min torrefaction. Taking into account the increased leachability of specific HMs and D. magna Straus mobility inhibition, biochar should be considered a potentially hazardous material. Future research should focus on biochar dosage as a fertilizer in relation to its toxicity. Additional research is warranted to focus on the optimization of SS torrefaction process parameters affecting the toxicity.

ACS Style

Andrzej Białowiec; Jakub Pulka; Marzena Styczyńska; Jacek A. Koziel; Joanna Kalka; Marcelina Jureczko; Ewa Felis; Piotr Manczarski. Is Biochar from the Torrefaction of Sewage Sludge Hazardous Waste? Materials 2020, 13, 3544 .

AMA Style

Andrzej Białowiec, Jakub Pulka, Marzena Styczyńska, Jacek A. Koziel, Joanna Kalka, Marcelina Jureczko, Ewa Felis, Piotr Manczarski. Is Biochar from the Torrefaction of Sewage Sludge Hazardous Waste? Materials. 2020; 13 (16):3544.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrzej Białowiec; Jakub Pulka; Marzena Styczyńska; Jacek A. Koziel; Joanna Kalka; Marcelina Jureczko; Ewa Felis; Piotr Manczarski. 2020. "Is Biochar from the Torrefaction of Sewage Sludge Hazardous Waste?" Materials 13, no. 16: 3544.

Original research article
Published: 07 August 2020 in Frontiers in Chemistry
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Mitigation of potentially hazardous and malodor compounds emitted from animal waste is needed to improve the sustainability of livestock agriculture. Bacteria control the generation of these compounds and also depend on the pH of manure. Influencing swine manure pH, especially on the liquid-air interface, may lead to a reduction of emission of odorous and hazardous compounds. The objective of this experiment was to test highly alkaline and porous (HAP) modified biochar with pH = 9.2 and red oak (RO) biochar with pH = 7.5 influence on swine manure pH acquired from the outdoor storage and deep pit storage under a barn. HAP and RO biochars were topically applied on the outdoor-stored (pH = 7.55), and pit (pH = 8.00) manures and spatial pH (every 1 mm of depth) were measured on days 0, 2, and 4. Results showed that HAP biochar increased outdoor-stored manure pH on day 4, particularly within the top 10 mm of depth, where pH ranged from 7.79 to 8.90, while in the case of RO pH ranged between 7.46 and 7.66, i.e., similar to control (7.57–7.64). Both biochars decreased pit-stored manure pH within the top 10 mm of depth (in comparison with the control pH of 8.36–8.47) to 8.19–8.30 (HAP), and 8.18–8.29 (RO) on day 4. However, differences were not considerable. The reason for the insignificant effect of biochars on pit manure was likely due to its higher buffer capacity in comparison with the outdoor-stored manure.

ACS Style

Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly; Jacek A. Koziel; Andrzej Bialowiec; Chumki Banik; Robert C. Brown. The Proof-of-the Concept of Biochar Floating Cover Influence on Swine Manure pH: Implications for Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions From Area Sources. Frontiers in Chemistry 2020, 8, 656 .

AMA Style

Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly, Jacek A. Koziel, Andrzej Bialowiec, Chumki Banik, Robert C. Brown. The Proof-of-the Concept of Biochar Floating Cover Influence on Swine Manure pH: Implications for Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions From Area Sources. Frontiers in Chemistry. 2020; 8 ():656.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly; Jacek A. Koziel; Andrzej Bialowiec; Chumki Banik; Robert C. Brown. 2020. "The Proof-of-the Concept of Biochar Floating Cover Influence on Swine Manure pH: Implications for Mitigation of Gaseous Emissions From Area Sources." Frontiers in Chemistry 8, no. : 656.

Data descriptor
Published: 18 June 2020 in Data
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Odor and gaseous emissions from the swine industry are of concern for the wellbeing of humans and livestock. Additives applied to the swine manure surface are popular, marketed products to solve this problem and relatively inexpensive and easy for farmers to use. There is no scientific data evaluating the effectiveness of many of these products. We evaluated 12 manure additive products that are currently being marketed on their effectiveness in mitigating odor and gaseous emissions from swine manure. We used a pilot-scale system simulating the storage of swine manure with a controlled ventilation of headspace and periodic addition of manure. This dataset contains measured concentrations and estimated emissions of target gases in manure headspace above treated and untreated swine manure. These include ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, and N2O), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and odor. The experiment to test each manure additive product lasted for two months; the measurements of NH3 and H2S were completed twice a week; others were conducted weekly. The manure for each test was collected from three different farms in central Iowa to provide the necessary variety in stored swine manure properties. This dataset is useful for further analyses of gaseous emissions from swine manure under simulated storage conditions and for performance comparison of marketed products for the mitigation of gaseous emissions. Ultimately, swine farmers, the regulatory community, and the public need to have scientific data informing decisions about the usefulness of manure additives.

ACS Style

Baitong Chen; Jacek A. Koziel; Chumki Banik; Hantian Ma; Myeongseong Lee; Jisoo Wi; Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly; Daniel S. Andersen; Andrzej Białowiec; David B. Parker. Emissions from Swine Manure Treated with Current Products for Mitigation of Odors and Reduction of NH3, H2S, VOC, and GHG Emissions. Data 2020, 5, 54 .

AMA Style

Baitong Chen, Jacek A. Koziel, Chumki Banik, Hantian Ma, Myeongseong Lee, Jisoo Wi, Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly, Daniel S. Andersen, Andrzej Białowiec, David B. Parker. Emissions from Swine Manure Treated with Current Products for Mitigation of Odors and Reduction of NH3, H2S, VOC, and GHG Emissions. Data. 2020; 5 (2):54.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Baitong Chen; Jacek A. Koziel; Chumki Banik; Hantian Ma; Myeongseong Lee; Jisoo Wi; Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly; Daniel S. Andersen; Andrzej Białowiec; David B. Parker. 2020. "Emissions from Swine Manure Treated with Current Products for Mitigation of Odors and Reduction of NH3, H2S, VOC, and GHG Emissions." Data 5, no. 2: 54.

Journal article
Published: 18 June 2020 in Energies
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Sustainable solutions are needed to manage increased energy demand and waste generation. Renewable energy production from abundant sewage sludge (SS) and digestate (D) from biogas is feasible. Concerns about feedstock contamination (heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria) in SS and D limits the use (e.g., agricultural) of these carbon-rich resources. Low temperature thermal conversion that results in carbonized solid fuel (CSF) has been proposed as sustainable waste utilization. The aim of the research was to investigate the feasibility of CSF production from SS and D via torrefaction. The CSF was produced at 200~300 °C (interval of 20 °C) for 20~60 min (interval 20 min). The torrefaction kinetics and CSF fuel properties were determined. Next, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of SS and D torrefaction were used to build models of energy demand for torrefaction. Finally, the evaluation of the energy balance of CSF production from SS and D was completed. The results showed that torrefaction improved the D-derived CSF’s higher heating value (HHV) up to 11% (p < 0.05), whereas no significant HHV changes for SS were observed. The torrefied D had the highest HHV of 20 MJ∙kg-1 under 300 °C and 30 min, (the curve fitted value from the measured time periods) compared to HHV = 18 MJ∙kg−1 for unprocessed D. The torrefied SS had the highest HHV = 14.8 MJ∙kg−1 under 200 °C and 20 min, compared to HHV 14.6 MJ∙kg−1 for raw SS. An unwanted result of the torrefaction was an increase in ash content in CSF, up to 40% and 22% for SS and D, respectively. The developed model showed that the torrefaction of dry SS and D could be energetically self-sufficient. Generating CSF with the highest HHV requires raw feedstock containing ~15.4 and 45.9 MJ∙kg−1 for SS and D, respectively (assuming that part of feedstock is a source of energy for the process). The results suggest that there is a potential to convert biogas D to CSF to provide renewable fuel for, e.g., plants currently fed/co-fed with municipal solid waste.

ACS Style

Kacper Świechowski; Martyna Hnat; Paweł Stępień; Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska; Szymon Kugler; Jacek A. Koziel; Andrzej Białowiec. Waste to Energy: Solid Fuel Production from Biogas Plant Digestate and Sewage Sludge by Torrefaction-Process Kinetics, Fuel Properties, and Energy Balance. Energies 2020, 13, 3161 .

AMA Style

Kacper Świechowski, Martyna Hnat, Paweł Stępień, Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska, Szymon Kugler, Jacek A. Koziel, Andrzej Białowiec. Waste to Energy: Solid Fuel Production from Biogas Plant Digestate and Sewage Sludge by Torrefaction-Process Kinetics, Fuel Properties, and Energy Balance. Energies. 2020; 13 (12):3161.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kacper Świechowski; Martyna Hnat; Paweł Stępień; Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska; Szymon Kugler; Jacek A. Koziel; Andrzej Białowiec. 2020. "Waste to Energy: Solid Fuel Production from Biogas Plant Digestate and Sewage Sludge by Torrefaction-Process Kinetics, Fuel Properties, and Energy Balance." Energies 13, no. 12: 3161.