Pig Slurry Anaerobic Digestion: The Role of Biochar as an Additive Towards Biogas and Digestate Improvement
Source abstract
Abstract
Biowaste from livestock production is increasing globally because of the intensification of livestock farming and inefficient waste management practices. If mismanaged, biowaste can result in environmental problems, including increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Anaerobic digestion (AD) stands as an effective approach for managing livestock biowaste, simultaneously generating biogas for energy recovery and digestate for agronomic application, following the principles of the circular economy. Considered a biowaste-to-energy approach, AD mitigates GHG emissions, facilitates nutrient recovery, and reduces dependence on fossil fuels. Despite its acknowledged benefits and status as a mature technology, further research is required to identify the best route for optimising the process in terms of stability and performance. This review examines new research that explores innovative ways to enhance the mesophilic AD process in continuous-stirred tank reactors, including the use of additives, especially carbon-based ones like biochar. From this perspective, the key challenges are exploring new insights into future research routes to implement AD units at a real scale, and pursuing goals towards a circular economy model. Finally, new opportunities have arisen for farmers to create synergies across agro-industrial sectors, enabling them to minimise their environmental footprint and simultaneously earn additional revenue.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF) Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV-REQUIMTE), Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Associate Laboratory TERRA, Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF) Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Funding
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
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