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Improvement of Methane Production from Sugar Beet Wastes Using TiO2 and Fe3O4 Nanoparticles and Chitosan Micropowder Additives

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Abstract

An experimental study was performed to measure biogas production from sugar beet waste, which is, in fact, the chopped parts of the sugar beet not going through the sugar extraction process, at different additive concentrations. Medium molecular weight chitosan in microsize and TiO2 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were added to ten experimental reactors to investigate their effect on the anaerobic digestion process. Three different concentrations of 0.01, 0.04, and 0.12% w/w were used for each additive. Biogas production and methane content were compared with a control sample containing no additive. Adding chitosan in powder form did not help the process nor improved methanogenic activities. The results showed no effect on anaerobic digestion by the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles in the mentioned concentrations, whereas adding Fe3O4 nanoparticles led to a slight increase in methane production and in volatile solid and total solid reduction. The maximum enhancement in methane and biogas production in the sample containing 0.04% Fe3O4, as compared with the control sample, reached 19.77% and 15.09%, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Quchan University of Technology, Quchan, 9477167335, Iran

    Hossein Beiki & Misagh Keramati

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  1. Hossein Beiki
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  2. Misagh Keramati
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Correspondence to Hossein Beiki.

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Highlights

• Unprocessed chopped parts of sugar beet have been used as substrate

• Chitosan powder in microsize and TiO2 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were used as additives

• Chitosan powder did not help the process nor improved methanogenic activities

• No effect on anaerobic digestion by addition of TiO2 NPs

• Adding 0.04% Fe3O4 has led to a 19.77% increase in methane production

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Beiki, H., Keramati, M. Improvement of Methane Production from Sugar Beet Wastes Using TiO2 and Fe3O4 Nanoparticles and Chitosan Micropowder Additives. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 189, 13–25 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-019-02987-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-019-02987-2

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