Innovative Solutions for an Efficient
Recovery of Nutrients from Agro-food
Waste and Wastewaters
PhD Carmen MATEESCU
National Institute for Research and Development in Electrical Engineering ICPE-CA,
Splaiul Unirii no. 313, Bucharest-030138, Romania
[email protected]
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Framework
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Proposals to change the Nitrates Directive to promote manure
fertilizers have been tabled by the Committee on Agriculture and
Rural Development of the European Parliament on 12 April 2017.
The committee is expected to vote the draft proposal on 30 May 2017;
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The European Biogas Association supports the proposal to revise
the directive as this would give “the biogas sector a very positive
signal to treat manure at a large scale.”
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If approved, uptake of on-farm biogas integration could rise as
treated animal waste would no longer be subject to nitrogen
limitations. Also, if treated manure on-site, farmers could avoid
expensive, imported mineral fertilizers, thus helping to reduce the
waters pollution.
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Environmental impact
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Waste and wastewaters generated as effluents in agro-food
industries are rich in organic compounds:
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Fats
Proteins
Oil–grease
Starch
Sugars
Other nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium)
Exemple:
The dairy industry generates approx. 0.2 – 10 liters of waste &
wastewaters per liter of processed milk. These waters are neutral or
slightly alkaline but have a tendency to become acidic quite rapidly, because
of the fermentation of milk sugars to lactic acid. The lower pH may lead to
the precipitation of casein.
Fats, oil and grease contained in milk and meat processing wastewaters have
negative impacts on wastewater treatment systems.
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Effects of water eutrophication
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The organic fraction contained in agro-food wastewaters lead to
waters eutrophication, with the following multiple harmful effects
on the aquatic systems:
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Increase in production of phytoplankton and algae;
Shift in habitat characteristics due to change in assemblage of aquatic
plants;
Replacement of desirable fish species by less desirable species;
Production of toxins by certain algae;
Increasing taste and odor problems, especially during periods of algal
blooms;
Deoxygenation of water, especially during algal blooms, usually
resulting in fish death;
Clogging of irrigation canals with aquatic weeds;
Loss of recreational use of water due to slime, weed infestation, and
noxious odor from decaying algae;
Impediments to navigation due to dense weed growth;
Economic loss due to change in fish species, fish death, etc.
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Promoting recycling water
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Treating agro-food industrial effluents is of crucial importance not
only for the environment, but also for the purpose of recycling
water to be used in technological processes.
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Benefits for the energy sector
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Recovering energy in Waste-to-Biogas technologies could reduce
the dependence on conventional fuels.
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Biogas can replace primary energy sources (charcoal, firewood,
liquid petroleum gas, oil).
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1 m3 biogas (up to 65%CH4) = 0,5 l fuel oil;
1 m3 biogas = 2 kg charcoal;
1 m3 biogas = 5,5 kg fire wood.
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Biogas potential of agro-food waste
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A wide range of organic
substrates can be used as
feedstock for producing
biogas and eco-fertilizers
in anaerobic digesters.
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Feedstock requirements:
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Woody wastes should not be
used as feedstock since most
anaerobes are unable to
degrade lignin;
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Volume, type and composition
of the available feedstock
should be considered when
planning a biogas plant
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Biogas potential of agro-food waste
The quantity and quality of biogas vary significantly amongst organic residuals.
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Biogas concepts developed by ICPE-CA
Biogas units for domestic applications - Floatingdrum biogas unit, 4 mc digester capacity
The biogas unit is the subject of a RO Patent 125902B1/30.04.2014
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Biogas concepts developed by ICPE-CA
Novelty elements:
The anaerobic chamber has an inovative shape which ensures a proper
flowing and homogenization of the organic mass. The specific route
followed by the biomass provides a slight hydrodynamics within the
digester.
The biogas unit is the subject of a RO Patent 125902B1/30.04.2014
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Biogas concepts developed by ICPE-CA
Advantages:
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Simplicity in building and operation;
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Better yields in degradation of the organic compounds due to the
longer mass flow;
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Profitable materials consumption and easy availability;
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Economical location on the site;
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Possibility to build the unit for larger size up to 16 m3, function of
the substrate availability and the family energy demand;
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Ensuring the sustainable fuel for domestic usage;
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Providing of a clean and healthy environment for the families
living in rural areas
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Biogas concepts developed by ICPE-CA
Biogas unit in Boteni village, Argeș County, in operation since 2010.
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Biogas concepts developed by ICPE-CA
Daily performance:
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Treating of ca. 50 kg organic slurry (25 kg organic waste + 25 kg
dilution water);
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Producing ca. 2 m3 biogas and ca. 20 kg stabile fertilizer;
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Domestic applications: for gas oven/stoves, boilers, gas engines;
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Gas Demand:
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Biogas consumption per burner: 200 l/hour;
Biogas production per day: 1000 – 2000 liters;
Daily production can fit the needs of a 3-4 members family for cooking and/or other
living needs;
If use for gas engines, about 1 m3 biogas is required to generate 6 kWh electricity
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Biogas concepts developed by ICPE-CA
Tubular Bioreactor with the liquid effluent partial recirculation
Applicability:
For the anaerobic treatment, in mesophilic temperature regime (20-400C), of
high-load organic waste waters from various economic sectors, agro-industry
and livestock farms, with biogas generation and use at local level for providing
fuel gas, heat and electricity.
1 – anaerobic fermenter;
2 – thermal insulating material;
3 – separating wall;
4 – overflow;
5 – inlet pipe;
6 – reversing flap;
7 – organic slurry tank;
8 – outlet pipe;
9 – digested sludge tank;
10 – expansion hole;
11 – expansion chamber;
12 – tanks lid;
13 – inlet valve;
14 – outlet valve;
15 – gas pipe;
16 – flame retaining system;
17 – liquid level measuring
system
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Biogas concepts developed by ICPE-CA
Why this new concept?
The new concept attempts to limit the constructive and functional
disadvantages faced by other biogas bioreactor models related to:
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Location mode and way to supplying / discharging the sludge;
Organics decomposition efficiency / Biogas quality;
Ensuring microbial innoculum;
Existence of dead zones;
Heating and homogenization systems;
Adjusting the pressure of the organic mass;
Construction materials and easiness of manufacture;
Environmental risks;
The level of olfactory discomfort in the feeding area;
Supplying organic waste and wastewaters at the treatment site.
The bioreactor is the subject of a RO Patent A 2016 00324
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Biogas concepts developed by ICPE-CA
Advantages:
1.
Higher efficiency in wastewater treatment compared to any conventional horizontal
tubular bioreactors without compartmentalization and liquid effluent return;
2.
Enhancement of biochemical processes by intake of active bacterial mass discharged
into the feed chamber, thus improving the decomposition level of organic compounds;
3.
Simple and natural hydrodynamics made naturally by mass movement along the
longitudinal wall;
4.
Extended decomposition time to ensure advanced and complete degradation of organic
compounds to biogas with a high methane content;
5.
Ensuring a mesophilic temperature fermentation medium due to the underground
bioreactor location without the need for any additional heating sources;
6.
Feeding the bioreactor directly from the inlet tank by free flowing without the need for
a pumping system
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Biogas concepts developed by ICPE-CA
Advantages:
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Biogas capture in the tubular bioreactor with a direct use to the consumer;
8.
Protecting the environment from unpleasant odors by covering mud tanks with a lid
fitted with flexible flaps at the inlet / outlet holes;
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Possibility of manufacturing for different sizes and modular construction in accordance
with the available materials to be treated; Thus it does not require a minimum
guaranteed biomass feedstock;
10.
It can be implemented with relatively low costs in very small rural local communities
or around organic waste generating farms;
11.
It allows periodic drainage and washing of the bioreactor body by conventional
vacuuming methods, with access through the inlet tank;
12.
The bioreactor is completely autonomous from the energy point of view, requiring no
energy-consuming operations such as homogenization and heating of the organic
mass, neither mechanized extraction of the fermented sludge from the exhaust tank.
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
National and International Awards
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Silver Medal at „The Belgian and International Trade Fair for Technological
Innovation” Brussels Eureka, November 2010, for the patent application No.
A/00616 / 14.07.2010 “Household biogas unit for rural areas”, Authors:
Carmen Mateescu, Ionel Chirita, Nicolae Stancu, Corina Alice Babutanu;
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Silver Medal at Inventika Bucharest 2010, for the patent application No.
A/01046 / 14.12.2009 “Sewage sludge treatment process for stimulating
the activity of methanogens”, Author: Carmen Mateescu;
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Bronz Medal at „Salon International des Inventions”, Geneva, April 2011, for
the patent application No. A/00616 /14.07.2010 “Household biogas unit for
rural areas” Authors: Carmen Mateescu, Ionel Chirita, Nicolae Stancu,
Corina-Alice Babutanu;
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Prize AGIR 2011, for the research result “Household biogas unit for rural
areas”, achieved under the project Nucleu No. 0935/2009. The result was
transferred to the trade company PRODLACTOSERV SRL;
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Gold Medal and Excellence Diploma, at Pro Invent Cluj Napoca, 22-24 March
2017, for the research result “Tubular Bioreactor with the liquid effluent
partial recirculation”, Author: Mateescu Carmen
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania
Contact
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING ICPE-CA
(INCDIE ICPE-CA)
Splaiul Unirii 313, Bucharest-030138, Romania
Phone: +40-21-346-72-31, +40-21-346-72-35
Fax: +40-21-346-82-99
Email: [email protected] [email protected]
www.icpe-ca.ro
PhD Carmen MATEESCU
Phone: +40-752 083 234
Email: [email protected]
“Blue Waters and Green Agriculture” Conference, 10-13 May 2017, Bucharest, Romania