Received: , Revised: , Accepted: , Available online: , Version of Record:

Max Rowan a
,
Great C. Umenweke b
,
Emmanuel I. Epelle c
,
Inioluwa Christianah Afolabi d
,
Patrick U. Okoye e
,
Burcu Gunes a
,
Jude A. Okolie f
a
School of Biotechnology and DCU Water Institute, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
b
Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
c
School of Computing, Engineering & Physical Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, PA1 2BE, Paisley, United Kingdom
d
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria
e
Instituto de Energías Renovables (IER-UNAM), Privada Xochicalco s/n Col. Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico
f
St. Peter's College Muenster, Canada

Abstract


Large amount of food and agricultural residues are discharged as municipal wastes. These biogenic waste possess high sugar content and are being dumped into landfills or incinerated, creating severe environmental challenges. Anaerobic co-digestion (AcD) of food waste and agricultural residues provides a sustainable valorisation route for biogas production. Biochar addition promotes the microbial activity, electrical conductivity, and molar interactions in the anaerobic digester. The present review presents an overview of the influence of biochar on the product yield during AcD. An overview of different classification of food waste and agricultural residues is presented. In addition, studies related to the application of biochar to enhance AcD were critically reviewed as well as the future outlook. The conducted studies revealed that the addition of biochar to AcD process can mitigate the buffering capacity and toxic process inhibitors faced in AcD, and ultimately enhance biogas yields, shortening the lag-phase and biodegrading running time. Biochar has a unique surface functional groups that can be modified by functionalization or by adjusting the pyrolysis temperature for optimal efficiency of specific co-substrate combinations of feedstocks. In AcD process, engineered biochar can be directed to specifically adsorb precise indirect (limonene) or direct (NH3, CO2) inhibitors for optimal process efficiency and methane production based on active surface functional groups, alkalinity of the material and hydrophobicity. Hence, biochar enhanced with the right pore sizing and pH can offset AcD limitations and improve process efficiency. The presented review provide an in- depth understand on the influence of biochar on product yield during AcD process.
Graphical abstract
Image, graphical abstract

  1. Download: Download high-res image (102KB)
  2. Download: Download full-size image
Keywords
Biochar
Anaerobic co-digestion
Biogas
Food waste
Agricultural waste



Description



   

Indexed in scopus

      

Article metrics

10.31763/DSJ.v5i1.1674 Abstract views : | PDF views :

   

Cite

How to cite item
   

Full Text

Download

Conflict of interest


“Authors state no conflict of interest”


Funding Information


This research received no external funding or grants


Peer review:


Peer review under responsibility of Defence Science Journal


Ethics approval:


Not applicable.


Consent for publication:


Not applicable.


Acknowledgements:


None.