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ABSTRACT
A large quantity of lignocellulosic biomass is generated annually across the world which leads to environmental pollution and requires valorization. This study investigated the effect of hydrothermal pretreatment on the anaerobic digestion and co-digestion of the residual pepper plant and eggplant with a focus on kinetics. Two thermal hydrolysis rates were observed, with the optimal conditions for the hydrothermal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass being 120°C for 40 min. Subsequently, single and combined biomethanization was successfully carried out in laboratory-scale completely stirred tank reactors at mesophilic temperature (35°C). A high increase in methane production was observed after the pretreatment of the pepper plant and eggplant. The pretreated and co-digested wastes led to an optimal methane yield of 79 ± 23 mL CH4/g VS. The modified Gompertz model was used to fit the cumulative methane production of the pretreated lignocellulosic substrates. The kinetic model adequately reproduced the experimental results and might be considered a useful tool to simulate the biomethanization behaviour of complex organic substrates.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Acknowledgements
Finally, we wish to express our gratitude to Inmaculada Bellido Padillo and María Luisa López Campaña for their contribution to this research.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available in repository Helvia at https://helvia.uco.es/handle/10396/21548.