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Stabilization of sewage sludge in the presence of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI): abatement of odor and improvement of biogas production

  • SPECIAL FEATURE: ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • The 7th International Conference on Waste Management and Technology (ICWMT) 2012
  • Published:
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The potential benefits of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) on sludge stabilization, either the abatement of odor or the improvement of biogas production, were investigated in this study. Two commercial-grade microscale iron powders were also utilized for comparison. Adding 0.10 wt% of nZVI in sludge during anaerobic incubation significantly reduced the concentration of H2S in biogas by 98.0 % (96.2–98.9 %), probably attributed by reactions between sulfides and the neo-formed hydrous Fe(II)/Fe(III) oxides layer at the surface of ZVI nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the percentage of P in bioavailable fractions decreased from 76.8 to 52.5 %, possibly due to the formation of vivianite [Fe3(PO4)2]. Furthermore, 0.10 wt% of nZVI in anaerobic digestion for 17 days enhanced the concentration of CH4 in biogas by 5.1–13.2 % and improved the production of biogas and methane by 30.4 and 40.4 %, respectively. The amendment of iron nanoparticles during anaerobic digestion can not only effectively reduce H2S in biogas, but also potentially boost methane production significantly.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (No. 10DZ1200104), Tongji University Institute for Advanced Study (No. 0400219152), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51278350).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Lianghu Su & Youcai Zhao

  2. Shanghai Urban Construction Investment and Development General Co., Shanghai, 200020, China

    Xinlong Shi, Guangzhai Guo & Aihua Zhao

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  1. Lianghu Su
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  2. Xinlong Shi
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  3. Guangzhai Guo
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  4. Aihua Zhao
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Correspondence to Youcai Zhao.

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Su, L., Shi, X., Guo, G. et al. Stabilization of sewage sludge in the presence of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI): abatement of odor and improvement of biogas production. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 15, 461–468 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-013-0150-9

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