Purpose Physical pretreatment methods using ultrasound and hydrothermal cavitation were compared in the process of mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion of cattle manure mixed with straw wheat. Methods To evaluate the anaerobic biodegradability of pretreated lignocellulosic biomass, 20-days batch anaerobic digestion experiments were used. Results The results showed that both methods achieved similar biomass solubilization (ca. 30% as COD_sol), but in hydrothermal cavitation the pretreatment time was shorter and energy required was lower than in ultrasonic pretreatment. Solubilization of nitrogen compounds was higher in hydrothermal cavitation. Application of sonication with energy input of 4839 kJ/kg TS increased biogas production rate to 177 mL/mg VS·d, compared to 194 mL/mg VS·d with hydrothermal cavitation. However, biogas productivity was higher with ultrasound, where biogas enhancement ranged 59.6–64.2% in contrast to 35.6–39.4% hydrothermal cavitation. Both methods did not contribute to increase methane concentration in biogas. Conclusions The optimization of pretreatments for the production of biofuels from lignocellulosic residues is needed to be feasible at industrial scale. Physical pretreatment based on cavitation enhanced lignocellulosic biomass solubilization as well as biogas productivity, but the process yield was related to the cavitation equipment and mechanism.

Some types of biomass require great inputs to guarantee high conversion rates to methane. The complex structure of lignocellulose impedes its penetration by cellulolytic enzymes, as a result of which a longer retention time is necessary to increase the availability of nutrients. To use the full biogas potential of lignocellulosic substrates, a substrate pretreatment is necessary before the proper methane fermentation. This article discusses the impact of the pretreatment of maize silage with a pulsed electric field on biogas productivity. The experiment showed a slight decrease in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content in the substrate following pretreatment with a pulsed electric field, which resulted in a higher carbohydrate content in the liquid substrate fraction. The highest biogas production output was obtained for the pretreated sample at the retention time of 180 s for 751.97 mL/g volatile solids (VS), which was approximately 14% higher than for the control sample. The methane production rate for the control sample was 401.83 mL CH₄/g VS, and for the sample following disintegration it was 465.62 mL CH₄/g VS. The study found that pretreatment of maize silage with a pulsed electric field increased the biogas potential.

Wastewater rich in organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus may serve as a convenient source of carbon and nutrients for a year-long microalgae production. Scientific reports indicate that some single-cell microalgae such as Chlorella and Scenedesmus, are highly tolerant to wastewater environments and efficiently remove biogenic compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of using the effluent produced in the process of anaerobic degradation of whey as a culture medium for the multiplication of Chlorella vulgaris algae biomass and to characterise their growth efficiency and rate. The content of nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater was sufficient for conducting an effective culture of algae. The efficiency of nitrogen removal in the flow system was 15.61 ± 1.38 mg N/dm³/day.

The cultivation and utilization of microalgae is now a intensively developing area of research. Some species of microalgae, under appropriate conditions, accumulate large amounts of lipids in the cells. This lipids have a suitable profile of fatty acids for biodiesel production. The culture of...

Waste-water rich in organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus may serve as a convenient source of carbon and nutrients for a year-long microalgae production. Scientific reports indicate that some single-cell microalgae such as Chlorella and Scenedesmus, are highly tolerant to waste-water environments and efficiently remove biogenic compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of using the effluent produced in the process of anaerobic degradation of whey, as a culture medium for the multiplication of Chlorella vulgaris algae biomass and to characterise their growth efficiency and rate. The content of nitrogen and phosphorus in waste-water was sufficient for conducting an effective culture of algae. The efficiency of nitrogen removal in the flow system was 15.61 ± 1.38 mg N/dm³/day.