Integrating Anaerobic Digestion With Struvite Production for Enhanced Nutrient Recovery, Pathogen Reduction, and Circularity in Manure Management

ABSTRACT Introduction Anaerobic digestion (AD) is essential for manure management, generating biogas and nutrient‐rich digestate for organic fertilizer. However, improper digestate use can pose environmental risks. Recovering struvite, a magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) compound, from digestate pr...

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Main Authors: Anita Nagarajan, Bernard Goyette, Vijaya Raghavan, Dominic Poulin‐Laprade, Rajinikanth Rajagopal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70018
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author Anita Nagarajan
Bernard Goyette
Vijaya Raghavan
Dominic Poulin‐Laprade
Rajinikanth Rajagopal
author_facet Anita Nagarajan
Bernard Goyette
Vijaya Raghavan
Dominic Poulin‐Laprade
Rajinikanth Rajagopal
author_sort Anita Nagarajan
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Introduction Anaerobic digestion (AD) is essential for manure management, generating biogas and nutrient‐rich digestate for organic fertilizer. However, improper digestate use can pose environmental risks. Recovering struvite, a magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) compound, from digestate provides a sustainable, controlled‐release fertilizer, supporting a circular economy in agriculture. Materials and Methods The study employed a two‐stage (liquid–solid) AD process using poultry, dairy, and swine manures, along with wasted corn silage. Digestates were sampled for physicochemical and biogas quality analyses, with feedstocks categorized into D1 and D2, and a composite (D3) formed for struvite characterization. Microbial populations were enumerated on selective media, and struvite mineral content was analysed via argon plasma emission spectrometry. Results The digesters processing feedstock mixtures D1 and D2 achieved specific methane yields of 1.26 L/g CODs fed and 1.49 L/g CODs fed, with cumulative biogas production of 374 and 369 L, respectively, over four 77‐day cycles. The two‐stage AD process significantly reduced antibiotic‐resistant, Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus spp. Total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) recovery rates were high at 98%–99%, with a consistent struvite crystal mass of 0.67 g/10 mL, indicating the efficiency of this integrated process. The agronomic value of struvite was determined, indicating its potential utility as a fertilizer, and scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed diverse crystal structures, warranting further investigation into their implications for usage and storage. Conclusion The results suggests that the two‐stage AD process efficiently transforms organic waste into high‐quality biogas, reduces antibiotic‐resistant bacteria, and facilitates nutrient recovery through struvite precipitation. This approach supports co‐digestion of multi‐substrates and promotes circular economy principles, with potassium or sodium phosphate enhancing struvite recovery for sustainable agriculture.
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spelling doaj-art-9cf041a54abc403db9087979c49f251b2025-08-20T02:57:29ZengWileyJournal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment2767-035X2024-10-0134n/an/a10.1002/sae2.70018Integrating Anaerobic Digestion With Struvite Production for Enhanced Nutrient Recovery, Pathogen Reduction, and Circularity in Manure ManagementAnita Nagarajan0Bernard Goyette1Vijaya Raghavan2Dominic Poulin‐Laprade3Rajinikanth Rajagopal4Sherbrooke Research and Development Center Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada Sherbrooke Quebec CanadaSherbrooke Research and Development Center Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada Sherbrooke Quebec CanadaDepartment of Bioresource Engineering McGill University Sainte‐Anne‐de‐Bellevue Quebec CanadaSherbrooke Research and Development Center Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada Sherbrooke Quebec CanadaSherbrooke Research and Development Center Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada Sherbrooke Quebec CanadaABSTRACT Introduction Anaerobic digestion (AD) is essential for manure management, generating biogas and nutrient‐rich digestate for organic fertilizer. However, improper digestate use can pose environmental risks. Recovering struvite, a magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) compound, from digestate provides a sustainable, controlled‐release fertilizer, supporting a circular economy in agriculture. Materials and Methods The study employed a two‐stage (liquid–solid) AD process using poultry, dairy, and swine manures, along with wasted corn silage. Digestates were sampled for physicochemical and biogas quality analyses, with feedstocks categorized into D1 and D2, and a composite (D3) formed for struvite characterization. Microbial populations were enumerated on selective media, and struvite mineral content was analysed via argon plasma emission spectrometry. Results The digesters processing feedstock mixtures D1 and D2 achieved specific methane yields of 1.26 L/g CODs fed and 1.49 L/g CODs fed, with cumulative biogas production of 374 and 369 L, respectively, over four 77‐day cycles. The two‐stage AD process significantly reduced antibiotic‐resistant, Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus spp. Total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) recovery rates were high at 98%–99%, with a consistent struvite crystal mass of 0.67 g/10 mL, indicating the efficiency of this integrated process. The agronomic value of struvite was determined, indicating its potential utility as a fertilizer, and scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed diverse crystal structures, warranting further investigation into their implications for usage and storage. Conclusion The results suggests that the two‐stage AD process efficiently transforms organic waste into high‐quality biogas, reduces antibiotic‐resistant bacteria, and facilitates nutrient recovery through struvite precipitation. This approach supports co‐digestion of multi‐substrates and promotes circular economy principles, with potassium or sodium phosphate enhancing struvite recovery for sustainable agriculture.https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70018anaerobic digestionantimicrobial resistancemanure managementpathogen inactivationstruvite recovery
spellingShingle Anita Nagarajan
Bernard Goyette
Vijaya Raghavan
Dominic Poulin‐Laprade
Rajinikanth Rajagopal
Integrating Anaerobic Digestion With Struvite Production for Enhanced Nutrient Recovery, Pathogen Reduction, and Circularity in Manure Management
Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment
anaerobic digestion
antimicrobial resistance
manure management
pathogen inactivation
struvite recovery
title Integrating Anaerobic Digestion With Struvite Production for Enhanced Nutrient Recovery, Pathogen Reduction, and Circularity in Manure Management
title_full Integrating Anaerobic Digestion With Struvite Production for Enhanced Nutrient Recovery, Pathogen Reduction, and Circularity in Manure Management
title_fullStr Integrating Anaerobic Digestion With Struvite Production for Enhanced Nutrient Recovery, Pathogen Reduction, and Circularity in Manure Management
title_full_unstemmed Integrating Anaerobic Digestion With Struvite Production for Enhanced Nutrient Recovery, Pathogen Reduction, and Circularity in Manure Management
title_short Integrating Anaerobic Digestion With Struvite Production for Enhanced Nutrient Recovery, Pathogen Reduction, and Circularity in Manure Management
title_sort integrating anaerobic digestion with struvite production for enhanced nutrient recovery pathogen reduction and circularity in manure management
topic anaerobic digestion
antimicrobial resistance
manure management
pathogen inactivation
struvite recovery
url https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70018
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