Enhancing Methane Production in Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste Using Co-Pyrolysis Biochar Derived from Digestate and Rice Straw

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a preferred method for food waste (FW) treatment due to its sustainability and potential for production of renewable bioenergy. However, the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and ammonia often destabilizes the AD process, and managing the digestate byproduct pos...

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Main Authors: Qinyan Yang, Huanran Liu, Li Liu, Zhen Yan, Chunmeng Chui, Niannian Yang, Chen Wang, Guoqing Shen, Qincheng Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1766
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author Qinyan Yang
Huanran Liu
Li Liu
Zhen Yan
Chunmeng Chui
Niannian Yang
Chen Wang
Guoqing Shen
Qincheng Chen
author_facet Qinyan Yang
Huanran Liu
Li Liu
Zhen Yan
Chunmeng Chui
Niannian Yang
Chen Wang
Guoqing Shen
Qincheng Chen
author_sort Qinyan Yang
collection DOAJ
description Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a preferred method for food waste (FW) treatment due to its sustainability and potential for production of renewable bioenergy. However, the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and ammonia often destabilizes the AD process, and managing the digestate byproduct poses additional challenges. This study investigates the use of co-pyrolysis biochar synthesized from digestate and rice straw (DRB) to enhance methane production and AD efficiency. DRB addition increased cumulative methane yield by 37.1%, improved VFA conversion efficiency, and achieved a 42.3% higher NH<sub>3</sub>-N-removal rate compared to the control group. The COD-removal rate was 68.7% throughout the process. Microbial analysis revealed that DRB selectively enriched <i>Fastidiosipila</i> and <i>Methanosarcina</i>, promoting direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) and methane yield. These findings highlight DRB’s potential to enhance AD efficiency and support closed-loop resource utilization.
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issn 1420-3049
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-b282a1b893e54be19fe14a4baf44d25f2025-08-20T02:28:41ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-04-01308176610.3390/molecules30081766Enhancing Methane Production in Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste Using Co-Pyrolysis Biochar Derived from Digestate and Rice StrawQinyan Yang0Huanran Liu1Li Liu2Zhen Yan3Chunmeng Chui4Niannian Yang5Chen Wang6Guoqing Shen7Qincheng Chen8School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaShanghai Pudong Development (Group) Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200127, ChinaShanghai Liming Resources Reuse Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201209, ChinaShanghai Liming Resources Reuse Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201209, ChinaSchool of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaAnaerobic digestion (AD) is a preferred method for food waste (FW) treatment due to its sustainability and potential for production of renewable bioenergy. However, the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and ammonia often destabilizes the AD process, and managing the digestate byproduct poses additional challenges. This study investigates the use of co-pyrolysis biochar synthesized from digestate and rice straw (DRB) to enhance methane production and AD efficiency. DRB addition increased cumulative methane yield by 37.1%, improved VFA conversion efficiency, and achieved a 42.3% higher NH<sub>3</sub>-N-removal rate compared to the control group. The COD-removal rate was 68.7% throughout the process. Microbial analysis revealed that DRB selectively enriched <i>Fastidiosipila</i> and <i>Methanosarcina</i>, promoting direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) and methane yield. These findings highlight DRB’s potential to enhance AD efficiency and support closed-loop resource utilization.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1766anaerobic digestionbiocharco-pyrolysiswaste recoverymethane production
spellingShingle Qinyan Yang
Huanran Liu
Li Liu
Zhen Yan
Chunmeng Chui
Niannian Yang
Chen Wang
Guoqing Shen
Qincheng Chen
Enhancing Methane Production in Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste Using Co-Pyrolysis Biochar Derived from Digestate and Rice Straw
Molecules
anaerobic digestion
biochar
co-pyrolysis
waste recovery
methane production
title Enhancing Methane Production in Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste Using Co-Pyrolysis Biochar Derived from Digestate and Rice Straw
title_full Enhancing Methane Production in Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste Using Co-Pyrolysis Biochar Derived from Digestate and Rice Straw
title_fullStr Enhancing Methane Production in Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste Using Co-Pyrolysis Biochar Derived from Digestate and Rice Straw
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing Methane Production in Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste Using Co-Pyrolysis Biochar Derived from Digestate and Rice Straw
title_short Enhancing Methane Production in Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste Using Co-Pyrolysis Biochar Derived from Digestate and Rice Straw
title_sort enhancing methane production in anaerobic digestion of food waste using co pyrolysis biochar derived from digestate and rice straw
topic anaerobic digestion
biochar
co-pyrolysis
waste recovery
methane production
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1766
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