Hydrodynamic disintegration for feedstock valorization – enhancing methane production and sustainable nutrient recovery in agricultural biogas plants
Justyna Walczak, Monika Żubrowska-Sudoł
This study investigates the impact of hydrodynamic disintegration (HD) on the valorization of diverse organic
feedstocks for agricultural biogas plants. The study included a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of HD on
various agricultural and industrial by-products, including cattle and swine slurry, distillery residue, maize silage,
sugar beet pulp (in both loose and pelletized forms), and fruit residues. Disintegration tests were conducted
under identical energy density conditions (35–210 kJ/L) to assess changes in the release of organic and nutrient
compounds, and the impact on anaerobic digestion performance (BMP tests). HD significantly enhanced the
solubilization of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus for several substrates, particularly sugar beet pulp and
maize silage. In contrast, increases in soluble organic compounds were relatively modest for cattle and swine
slurry. The effect of HD on methane yield was substrate and energy density-dependent: for cattle slurry, lowenergy
HD (10–35 kJ/L) increased methane potential by 4.1–6.8%, whereas for swine slurry, HD reduced
methane yield by up to 30% for higher energy densities (140 kJ/L). Importantly, HD accelerated anaerobic
digestion, shortening digestion time by approximately 3 days for cattle slurry and up to 8 days for swine slurry at
140 kJ/L. These findings highlight the need to optimize HD parameters based on substrate characteristics and
intended valorization goals (energy production vs. nutrient recovery). HD represents a promising technology for
enhancing both renewable energy generation and nutrient recovery in sustainable agriculture; however, optimization
of the disintegration process is critical to maximizing benefits while avoiding potential negative effects
on biogas plant performance.
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