Keywords
Annaerobic digestion, Particle size, Organic waste, BMP, Biomethane, Pretreatment
Abstract
As per the 2021 data from Canada's Greenhouse Gas Inventory, emissions from Canadian landfills constituted 19% of the nation's methane emissions. Shifting organic waste away from landfills and employing controlled anaerobic digestion not only facilitates the efficient capture and utilization of this renewable energy source but also extends the operational lifespan of landfills. In the Leamington-Kingsville (L-K) area, where greenhouse vegetable cultivation is prominent, substantial quantities of tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers are produced. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the organic waste generated by this sector currently ends up in landfills. Anaerobic digestion (AD) presents a viable option for managing waste generated by greenhouse vegetable growers in the L-K area, offering a sustainable solution. Even though energy recovery through AD seems appealing, there may be financial challenges with its actual implementation, depending on factors such as the amount of organic waste generated and the yield and kinetics of biomethane generated from that waste. The enhancement of biomethane yield and its kinetics can be achieved through the utilization of physical and other pretreatment methods, including size reduction. This study investigates the effects of size reduction pretreatment in anaerobic digestion as a means to enhance the yield and kinetics of biomethane recovery from organic waste generated by the vegetable greenhouse sector.
A batch setup, employing the AMPTS III unit, facilitates mesophilic AD. The impact of particle size on methane yield and process kinetics is investigated using bell pepper waste from a vegetable greenhouse in L-K area. Samples with varying particle sizes (37%, 49%, and 52% < 0.5 mm). The methane output and kinetics of the sample with 52% particles smaller than 0.5 mm were decreased, according to the results, suggesting potential volatile fatty acid accumulation due to excessive size reduction. The findings contribute to understanding the complexities of pretreatment in anaerobic digestion, providing insights into optimizing biomethane recovery and enhancing the feasibility of AD processes for greenhouse waste management.
Primary Advisor
Dr. Rajesh Seth
Program Reader
Dr. Niharendu Biswas
Degree Name
Master of Applied Science
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Document Type
Major Research Paper
Convocation Year
2024