The role of anaerobic digestion in the sustainable management of olive mill solid waste: a techno-economic study
2024
Correa González, Sandra | Llamas Redondo, Mercedes | Passos, Fabiana Lopes del Rei | González Fermoso, Fernando | Ferrer Martí, Ivet | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Doctorat en Enginyeria Ambiental | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Civil i Ambiental | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. GEMMA - Grup d'Enginyeria i Microbiologia del Medi Ambient
Olive oil production, with a market value of 13.4 billion euros, generates annually 10 million tons of olive mill solid waste (OMSW), yet sustainable technologies for the valorisation of this material are still missing at industrial scale. This study presents a techno-economic assessment focused on the recovery of biogas via anaerobic digestion and co-digestion with pig manure. Lab-scale results showed how the anaerobic digestion of OMSW as a sole substrate was not stable, with poor methane yield and accumulation of volatile fatty acids. Conversely, co-digestion with pig manure increased the methane yield by 3.5-fold, which was attributed to an increase in the buffer capacity, the dilution of phenolic compounds and an improved nutrient balance. Based on these results, the techno-economic assessment showed the feasibility of scaling-up the process, with a net present value of 312 k€ and a payback period of 8 years. Therefore, this consolidated technology should play a role in the ecological and energy transition of the sector.
Mostrar más [+] Menos [-]This research was funded by PRIMA Foundation (4BIOLIVE project PCI2021-121979). S. Correa is grateful to the Generalitat de Catalunya for her predoctoral scholarship (2021 FISDUR 00057). F. Passos is grateful to the Spanish Ministry of Universities for her Maria Zambrano Fellowship (UP2021-034).
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