Work

Climate change impacts of biological treatment of liquid digestate from the anaerobic digestion of food waste

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: • Treatment of anaerobic digestion digestate has significant climate change impact. • Detailed assessment of the biotreatment of liquid digestate is recommended. • N 2 O emissions from the biotreatment of liquid digestate are substantial. • The impact of the preferred digestate biotreatment changes with the energy system. • The biowaste system is a burden to climate change in a renewable future. The liquid fraction of digestate (LFD) from anaerobic digestion of food waste contains high nitrogen concentrations, and in some countries, the LFD is treated as wastewater. We modelled alternative LFD treatments, including pretreatment with the partial nitritation Anammox (PNA) process. The PNA effluent is discharged to the sewers to undergo further treatment by conventional nitrification and (post- or pre-) denitrification. Life-cycle inventories were developed for the LFD treatment alternatives, including N 2 O emissions and electricity consumption estimates. The climate change (CC) impact was estimated using life cycle assessment in three different energy systems ranging from fossil-based to fully renewable. In the fossil energy system, pretreatment with PNA was attractive, while in the more renewable energy systems, the PNA process did not improve the CC account due to high N 2 O emissions. Pre-denitrification is the most attractive LFD treatment technology in a fully renewable energy system. Linking the LFD treatment to the anaerobic digestion of food waste showed that LFD treatment is a significant contributor to the overall CC account. As we move towards less fossil-based electricity, the anaerobic digestion of food waste constitutes a CC load of 350–450 kg CO 2 -eq/tonne biowaste, of which up to a third can be attributed to the LFD treatment. The N 2 O emissions are the main contributor, constituting up to 50 % in a fossil-based energy system and even higher in a renewable energy system. We conclude that the LFD treatment must be addressed in assessing anaerobic digestion when the LFD is discharged to the sewer. Our study also points to the need to find alternative ways of managing the LFD.

Source: Waste Management

DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.12.013

Authors: A.S. Varling, V. Chrysochoidis, V. Bisinella, B. Valverde-Pérez, T.H. Christensen

Institution: Technical University of Denmark

Language: English

Topic: Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Climate action, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,280