Biogas production by an anaerobic digestion process from orange peel waste and its improvement by limonene leaching: Investigation of H₂O₂ pre-treatment effect

ABSTRACT

Orange peel waste is considered as an important feedstock for anaerobic digestion to generate bio-energy such as bio-hydrogen and bio-methane; however, its use as an energy source is still not important worldwide. Therefore, in the current study, the biochemical methane potential test was carried out to estimate the biogas production from orange peel waste by using an anaerobic digestion process in the thermophilic phase (T = 55°C). In order to investigate the antimicrobial and the inhibiting effect of limonene contained in orange peels on biogas production two experimental setups were operated simultaneously using de-oiled and crude orange peel wastes, respectively. For further enhancement of the biogas production, a pre-treatment was applied using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) at different concentrations up to the optimum value to increase soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD). The obtained results showed an important increase in biogas production: From 170 mL.gTVS⁻¹ for the untreated sample to 750 mL.gTVS⁻¹ after pre-treatment, and the composition analysis of the biogas indicated that average methane yields represent up to 50% of the total production. This increase was observed after steam distillation and was attributed to the removal of the antimicrobial compound.

KEYWORDS:

• Anaerobic digestion
• biogas
• orange peel
• limonene
• H₂O₂

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bouaita Rokaya

Bouaita Rokaya was born in Skikda, Algeria. She received the Engineer and Master degree in environmental engineering from the National Polytechnic school of Constantine, Constantine, Algeria, in 2017. During the same year, she joined the Department of process engineering, national polytechnic school of Constantine, Constantine, Algeria, as PhD student. Actually she works in national polytechnic school of Constantine, Algeria as Researcher. His current research interests include, anaerobic digestion process, bio-energy from waste, simulation of environmental process.

Derbal Kerroum

Derbal Kerroum was born in Constantine, Algeria, in 1971. He received the Engineer degree in environmental engineering from the University of Montouri, Constantine, Algeria, in 1996, and Magister and Ph.D. degrees in environmental engineering from the University of Montouri, Constantine, Algeria, in 1999 and 2009, respectively. In 2000, he joined the Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Montouri, Constantine, Algeria, as a Lecturer. Actually he works in national polytechnic school of Constantine, Algeria as full professor. His current research interests include water and wastewater treatment process, design of water and wastewater treatment process, anaerobic digestion process, bio-energy from waste, simulation of environmental process, air pollution treatment process. He is actually reviewer of different national and international scientific journals.

Zekri Hayat

Zekri Hayat was born in Algeria. She received the Engineer and Master degree in environmental engineering from the National Polytechnic school of Constantine, Constantine, Algeria, in 2017. His current research interests include, anaerobic digestion process, bio-energy from waste, simulation of environmental process.

Antonio Panico

Antonio Panico is adjunct professor of Environmental Engineering at the Online University Pegaso. He graduated in Environmental Engineering on 2003 at the University of Naples Federico II where he got the title of Ph.Dr on 2007 in Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering.

Achouri Ouafa

Achouri Ouafa was born in Constantine, Algeria, in 1985. She received the Master degree in environmental engineering from the University Montouri, Constantine, Algeria, in 2010, and Ph.D. degrees in environmental engineering from the University of Constantine 3, Constantine, Algeria, in 2018. In the same year, she joined the Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Constantine 3, Constantine, Algeria, as a Lecturer. His current research interests include wastewater treatment process, anaerobic digestion process, bio-energy from waste.

Francesco Pirozzi

Francesco Pirozzi is full professor of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering at the Department of Hydraulic, Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering of the University of Naples Federico II. He graduated on 1984 in Hydraulic Engineering at the University of Naples Federico II. He is Ph.Dr in Sanitary Engineering since 1989.