Efficient Anaerobic Digestion of Whole Microalgae and Lipid-Extracted Microalgae Residues for Methane Energy Production

Baisuo Zhao, Jingwei Ma, Quanbao Zhao, Lieve Laurens, Eric Jarvis, Shulin Chen, Craig Frear

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

129 Scopus Citations

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to completely investigate extensive biological methane potential (BMP) on both whole microalgae and its lipid-extracted biomass residues with various degrees of biomass pretreatment. Specific methane productivities (SMP) under batch conditions for non-lipid extracted biomass were better than lipid-extracted biomass residues and exhibited no signs of ammonia or carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio inhibition when digested at high I/S ratio (I/S ratio≥1.0). SMP for suitably extracted biomass ranged from 0.30 to 0.38LCH4/gVS (volatile solids). For both whole and lipid-extracted biomass, overall organic conversion ranged from 59.33 to 78.50 as a measure of %VS reduction with greater percentage biodegradability in general found within the lipid-extracted biomass. Higher production levels correlated to lipid content with a linear relationship between SMP and ash-free lipid content being developed at a R2 of 0.814.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)423-430
Number of pages8
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume161
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-5100-61996

Keywords

  • Anaerobic digestion
  • Lipid-extracted microalgae residues
  • Methane production
  • Microalgae

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