Nutrient recovery from anaerobic sludge by membrane filtration: pilot tests at a 2.5 MWe biogas plant

Abstract Purpose Membrane filtration is recently applied to recover nutrients and dischargeable water from anaerobic sludge. The purpose of this study is to quantify nutrient separation, membrane performance, and process stability and to increase the economical applicability of the process by energe...

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Main Authors: T. Gienau, U. Brüß, M. Kraume, S. Rosenberger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: OICC Press 2018-09-01
Series:International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture
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Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40093-018-0218-6
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author T. Gienau
U. Brüß
M. Kraume
S. Rosenberger
author_facet T. Gienau
U. Brüß
M. Kraume
S. Rosenberger
author_sort T. Gienau
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Purpose Membrane filtration is recently applied to recover nutrients and dischargeable water from anaerobic sludge. The purpose of this study is to quantify nutrient separation, membrane performance, and process stability and to increase the economical applicability of the process by energetic optimisation. Methods At the site of a 2.5 MWe agricultural biogas plant, a membrane pilot plant was operated over a period of 7 months. It consisted of a screw press separator, a decanter centrifuge, an ultrafiltration unit, and a three-stage reverse osmosis unit. Mass and nutrient balances were generated by sampling and analysing every process stream. Process performance was analysed by monitoring separation efficiencies, membrane flux, cleaning intervals, and energy demand. Results Solid/liquid separation resulted in separation efficiencies of 70% for total solids and 80% for phosphorus. The solid fraction contained high concentrations of organics and particle-ligated nutrients (20% TS, 8 kg t−1 Ntotal, 5.5 kg t−1 P2O5). The retentate of the reverse osmosis had high concentrations of dissolved ammonia and potassium (4 kg t−1 NH4–N and 10 kg t−1 K2O). 38% of the sludge volume was recovered as clean water. Conclusion The membrane pilot plant successfully produced a solid N/P-fertiliser, a liquid N/K-fertiliser and clean water. The results contribute to a sound understanding and growing database for future adaption of the process chain. Hydrodynamic optimisation within the pilot plant reduced the energy demand of the ultrafiltration step by 50%, which considerably contributes to the economy of the process.
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spelling doaj-art-d5d63c2307004844837067c4b377d4cc2025-01-02T22:58:39ZengOICC PressInternational Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture2195-32282251-77152018-09-017432533410.1007/s40093-018-0218-6Nutrient recovery from anaerobic sludge by membrane filtration: pilot tests at a 2.5 MWe biogas plantT. Gienau0U. Brüß1M. Kraume2S. Rosenberger3Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, Osnabrück University of Applied ScienceA3 Water Solutions GmbHChair of Chemical and Process Engineering, Technische Universität BerlinFaculty of Engineering and Computer Science, Osnabrück University of Applied ScienceAbstract Purpose Membrane filtration is recently applied to recover nutrients and dischargeable water from anaerobic sludge. The purpose of this study is to quantify nutrient separation, membrane performance, and process stability and to increase the economical applicability of the process by energetic optimisation. Methods At the site of a 2.5 MWe agricultural biogas plant, a membrane pilot plant was operated over a period of 7 months. It consisted of a screw press separator, a decanter centrifuge, an ultrafiltration unit, and a three-stage reverse osmosis unit. Mass and nutrient balances were generated by sampling and analysing every process stream. Process performance was analysed by monitoring separation efficiencies, membrane flux, cleaning intervals, and energy demand. Results Solid/liquid separation resulted in separation efficiencies of 70% for total solids and 80% for phosphorus. The solid fraction contained high concentrations of organics and particle-ligated nutrients (20% TS, 8 kg t−1 Ntotal, 5.5 kg t−1 P2O5). The retentate of the reverse osmosis had high concentrations of dissolved ammonia and potassium (4 kg t−1 NH4–N and 10 kg t−1 K2O). 38% of the sludge volume was recovered as clean water. Conclusion The membrane pilot plant successfully produced a solid N/P-fertiliser, a liquid N/K-fertiliser and clean water. The results contribute to a sound understanding and growing database for future adaption of the process chain. Hydrodynamic optimisation within the pilot plant reduced the energy demand of the ultrafiltration step by 50%, which considerably contributes to the economy of the process.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40093-018-0218-6Anaerobic digestionNutrient recoveryUltrafiltration and reverse osmosis treatmentTotal conditioning processFertiliser
spellingShingle T. Gienau
U. Brüß
M. Kraume
S. Rosenberger
Nutrient recovery from anaerobic sludge by membrane filtration: pilot tests at a 2.5 MWe biogas plant
International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture
Anaerobic digestion
Nutrient recovery
Ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis treatment
Total conditioning process
Fertiliser
title Nutrient recovery from anaerobic sludge by membrane filtration: pilot tests at a 2.5 MWe biogas plant
title_full Nutrient recovery from anaerobic sludge by membrane filtration: pilot tests at a 2.5 MWe biogas plant
title_fullStr Nutrient recovery from anaerobic sludge by membrane filtration: pilot tests at a 2.5 MWe biogas plant
title_full_unstemmed Nutrient recovery from anaerobic sludge by membrane filtration: pilot tests at a 2.5 MWe biogas plant
title_short Nutrient recovery from anaerobic sludge by membrane filtration: pilot tests at a 2.5 MWe biogas plant
title_sort nutrient recovery from anaerobic sludge by membrane filtration pilot tests at a 2 5 mwe biogas plant
topic Anaerobic digestion
Nutrient recovery
Ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis treatment
Total conditioning process
Fertiliser
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40093-018-0218-6
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