Evaluate Synergies of Using Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Anerobic Digestion Treatment Technologies for Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities (CRADA 516 Final Report)

Technical Report · Wed Dec 18 04:00:00 EST 2024

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2484050· OSTI ID:2484050

Schmidt, Andrew J. ^[1]; Thorson, Michael R. ^[1]; Almansa, Xavier Fonoll ^[2]; Norton, John ^[3]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
2. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
3. Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), Detroit, MI (United States)

The research focuses on utilizing a new anaerobic digestion (AD) configuration to treat the aqueous by-product generated by hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of sewage sludge. This report found that for Anaerobic Digestion for HTL By-product, Anaerobic biofilms can degrade some HTL wastewater contaminants, but co-digestion is essential to address nutrient deficiencies and optimize performance. Without AD, toxicity of HTL aqueous streams may limit broader adoption in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) used an innovative reactor design, involving a dynamic membrane anaerobic bioreactor to promote biofilm growth, improving contaminant degradation. The tree-like structure inside the reactor supports biofilm development with recirculation enhancing microbial activity. Overall, a 70% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was achieved, although nutrient supplementation is required for stability. The reactor achieved a diverse microbial community, including methanogens and bacteria capable of degrading phenols and aromatics.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), Detroit, MI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 2484050
• Report Number(s): PNNL--37152; CRADA-516
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Anerobic Digestion
Aqueous Phase
Great Lakes Water Authority
HTL
Hydrothermal Liquefaction
Recirculating Anaerobic Dynamic Membrane Bioreactor
dynamic membrane