Impact of trace element supplementation on mesophilic anaerobic digestion of food waste using Fe-rich inoculum

Yazdanpanah, Andisheh; Ghasimi, Dara S. M.; Kim, Min Gu; Nakhla, George; Hafez, Hisham; Keleman, Michele

doi:10.1007/s11356-018-2832-2

Research Article
Published: 16 August 2018

Impact of trace element supplementation on mesophilic anaerobic digestion of food waste using Fe-rich inoculum

Andisheh Yazdanpanah ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4054-8922¹,
Dara S. M. Ghasimi^na1,
Min Gu Kim¹,
George Nakhla¹,
Hisham Hafez² &
Michele Keleman³

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 25, pages 29240–29255 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Trace elements (TEs) play an indispensable role in enhancing the stability of anaerobic digestion (AD) of food waste (FW). Significant research on AD of FW with TE supplementation has been conducted with low Fe content inoculum. However, the use of Fe-rich inoculum is inevitable due to chemical phosphorous removal from wastewater in North America. We conducted comprehensive mesophilic batch tests to investigate the effect of TEs (Fe, Ni, Co, Se, and Mo) on FW digestion inoculated with Fe-rich sludge (≥ 1000 mg Fe L⁻¹). This paper presents the impact of supplementing various concentrations of TEs on specific methanogenic activity (SMA), maximum specific methane production rate (SMPR_max), and apparent hydrolysis rate constant (K_h). The addition of TEs adversely impacted methanogenic activity by 20 to 58% in the SMA tests. The effects of individual and mixed supplementation of TEs on the SMPR_max and K_h during FW digestion were negligible; exceptions include Fe, Mo, and Co. Final soluble TE concentrations were 10–29% of the initial soluble TEs. The high Fe concentration in the inoculum reduces the bioavailable fraction of added TEs via coprecipitation. Contrary with many literature reports indicating the need to supplement TE to improve FW digestion efficiency, with Fe-rich sludges, FW digestion does not require TE supplementation.

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Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge Emerson Electric Co. for providing funding for this study.

Author information

Dara S. M. Ghasimi contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
Andisheh Yazdanpanah, Min Gu Kim & George Nakhla
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
Hisham Hafez
Emerson Electric Co., 8000 West Florissant Ave., St. Louis, MO, USA
Michele Keleman

Authors

Andisheh Yazdanpanah
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Dara S. M. Ghasimi
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Min Gu Kim
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George Nakhla
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Hisham Hafez
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Michele Keleman
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Correspondence to George Nakhla.

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Highlights

• TE addition to FW digesters using Fe-rich inoculum inhibited methanogenic activity

• Individual and combined TE supplementation did not affect FW digestion kinetics

• FW digestion requires no TE supplementation when Fe-rich inoculum is used

Responsible editor: Gerald Thouand

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Yazdanpanah, A., Ghasimi, D.S.M., Kim, M.G. et al. Impact of trace element supplementation on mesophilic anaerobic digestion of food waste using Fe-rich inoculum. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 29240–29255 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2832-2

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Received: 13 February 2018
Accepted: 23 July 2018
Published: 16 August 2018
Issue Date: October 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2832-2

Keywords

Food waste
Anaerobic digestion
Trace elements
SMA
Methane production rate
Bioavailability