Abstract
In this experimental study, the biogas digestate from mesophilic batch anaerobic co-digestion of poultry manure and an agricultural residue, sunflower hulls, was characterized, particularly in terms of heavy metal content, in order to evaluate whether the biogas digestate was suitable for land applications. Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Hg were detected in the biogas digestate in each trial, however, their concentrations were always lower than the limit values stated in Turkish regulations. The main source of heavy metals in the biogas digestate seemed to be the poultry manure, not the agricultural residue. The commercial feedstuffs that are frequently supplemented with various essential elements to promote optimum nutrient supply and optimum growth rates may have contributed to heavy metals presence in the biogas digestate. The results indicated that the biogas digestate from anaerobic co-digestion of manure and agricultural residue could be utilized as fertilizer in agricultural applications.
References
Ghafoori E, Flynn PC (2007) Optimizing the logistics of anaerobic digestion of manure. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 136–140:625–637
Weiland P (2010) Biogas production: current state and perspectives. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 85:849–860
Goberna M, Podmirseg SM, Waldhuber S, Knapp BA, Garcia C, Insam H (2011) Pathogenic bacteria and mineral N in soils following the land spreading of biogas digestates and fresh manure. Appl Soil Ecol 49:18–25
Rehl T, Müller J (2011) Life cycle assessment of biogas digestate technologies. Resour Conserv Recy 56:92–104
Paavola T, Rintala J (2008) Effects of storage on the characteristics and hygienic quality of digestates from four co-digestion concepts of manure and biowaste. Bioresource Technol 99:7041–7050
Liebetrau J, Clemens J, Cuhls C, Hafermann C, Friehe J, Weiland P, Daniel-Gromke J (2010) Methane emissions from biogas-producing facilities within the agricultural sector. Eng Life Sci 10:595–599
Menardo S, Gioelli F, Balsari P (2011) The methane yield of digestate: effect of organic loading rate, hydraulic retention time, and plant feeding. Bioresource Technol 102:2348–2351
Rico C, Rico JL, Tejero I, Munoz N, Gomez B (2011) Anaerobic digestion of the liquid fraction of dairy manure in pilot plant for biogas production: residual methane yield of digestate. Waste Manage 31:2167–2173
Lehtomaki A, Björnsson L (2006) Two-stage anaerobic digestion of energy crops: methane production, nitrogen mineralisation and heavy metal mobilisation. Environ Technol 27:209–218
Selling R, Hakansson T, Björnsson L (2008) Two stage anaerobic digestion enables heavy metal removal. Water Sci Technol 57:553–558
Govasmark E, Stab J, Holen B, Hoornstra D, Nesbakk T, Salkinoja-Salonen M (2011) Chemical and microbiological hazards associated with recycling of anaerobic digested residue intended for agricultural use. Waste Manage 31:2577–2583
Teglia C, Tremier A, Martel JL (2011) Characterization of solid digestates. Part 1, review of existing indicators to assess solid digestates agricultural use. Waste Biomass Valor 2:43–58
APHA, AWWA, WPCF (1998) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Pollution Control Federation, Washington DC
Sager M (2007) Trace and nutrient elements in manure, dung and compost samples in Austria. Soil Biol Biochem 39:1383–1390
Demirel B, Scherer P (2011) Trace element requirements of agricultural anaerobic digesters during biological conversion of renewable biomass to methane. Biomass Bioenergy 35:992–998
Mantovi P, Bonazzi G, Maestri E, Marmiroli N (2003) Accumulation of copper and zinc from liquid manure in agricultural soils and crop plants. Plant Soil 250:249–257
Ministry of Environment and Forestry (2005) Regulation on soil pollution control. http://www.mevzuat.gov.tr. Accessed 1 June 2012
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to express their gratitude to Boğaziçi University Research Fund (project number 5544) for financial support.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Demirel, B., Göl, N.P. & Onay, T.T. Evaluation of heavy metal content in digestate from batch anaerobic co-digestion of sunflower hulls and poultry manure. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 15, 242–246 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-012-0107-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-012-0107-4