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Carlos-Pinedo, SandraORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0002-2838-6545
Publications (6 of 6) Show all publications
Carlos-Pinedo, S. (2023). Renewable Energy and Nutrient Valorization from Anaerobic Digestion: Resource-Efficient Solutions. (Doctoral dissertation). Gävle: Gävle University Press
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Renewable Energy and Nutrient Valorization from Anaerobic Digestion: Resource-Efficient Solutions
2023 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This thesis presents a comprehensive analysis aimed at understanding process performance, methane yield, and key influencing factors within the context of solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD). SS-AD is used to treat organic material with high solids content, which can be challenging to address by alternative methods. The investigation involves modelling and simulation exploring mass and energy balances and the associated environmental implications. To achieve this, a waste management tool, ORganic WAste REsearch (ORWARE) was adapted and validated to suit the unique parameters of SS-AD operating under a plug-flow reactor configuration, representing a specific case study. The search of an optimal feedstock mix that enhances the digestion process and energy performance is highlighted. Findings suggest that feedstock selection significantly affects methane yield in SS-AD systems, and optimizing substrate mixtures can enhance process efficiency. Key considerations include biodegradability and lignocellulosic content. Operational parameters, such as temperature variations, impact the results from the model, while responsiveness of hydraulic retention time and organic loading rate remains limited. A further comparison between a liquid anaerobic digestion (L-AD) vs SS-AD is made, despite similar methane yields, SS-AD outperforms due to higher energy turnover. Additionally, effective management of digestate nutrients is crucial for its biofertilizer use. Beyond the biogas system, the thesis explores interconnected relationships between SS-AD inputs and outputs and their subsequent use as resources for a hydroponic greenhouse production system. The examination of system interconnections and their broader implications emphasizes the importance of comprehensive assessments when integrating biogas systems beyond their conventional applications.

Abstract [sv]

Denna avhandling presenterar en omfattande analys som syftar till att förstå processprestanda, metanutbyte, och viktiga påverkande faktorer inom ramen för torrötning. Torrötning används för att behandla organiskt material med hög torrhalt, vilket kan vara svårt att hantera med alternativa metoder. Undersökningen omfattar modellering och simulering för att utforska mass- och energibalanser och därmed sammanhängande miljökonsekvenser. För att uppnå detta anpassades och validerades ett verktyg för avfallshantering ORganic WAste REsearch (ORWARE) för att passa en torrötnings-anläggning med pluggflödereaktor, vilket representerar en specifik fallstudie. En optimal råvarublandning som förbättrar rötningsprocessen och energiprestanda lyfts fram. Resultaten tyder på att valet av råmaterial avsevärt påverkar metanutbytet i torrötnings-system, och att optimera substratblandningar kan förbättra processeffektiviteten. Viktiga överväganden inkluderar biologisk nedbrytbarhet och lignocellulosahalt. Driftsparametrar, såsom temperaturvariationer, påverkar torrötning, medan känsligheten för hydraulisk retentionstid och organisk belastningshastighet i den modifierade pluggflödereaktor-konfigurationen förblir begränsad. I en jämförelse mellan våtrötning och torrötning så har både teknikerna liknande metanutbyten, men torrötning överträffar på grund av förbättrad energibalans. Avhandlingen undersöker dessutom aspekter bortom biogassystemet. Den utforskar de sammankopplade förhållandena mellan torrötning-utgångar och deras efterföljande användning som resursinsatser för ett hydroponiskt växthusproduktionssystem. Utforskningen av systemsammankopplingar och deras bredare implikationer belyser vikten av omfattande bedömningar när man integrerar biogassystem utöver deras konventionella tillämpningar.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Gävle: Gävle University Press, 2023. p. 70
Series
Doctoral thesis ; 38
Keywords
Solid-state anaerobic digestion, methane yield, digestate, systems analysis, modelling, life cycle assessment, Torrötning, metanutbyte, biogödsel, systemanalys, modellering, livscykelanalys
National Category
Other Environmental Engineering Environmental Management
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-43263 (URN)978-91-89593-15-2 (ISBN)978-91-89593-16-9 (ISBN)
Public defence
2024-01-18, 12:108, Gävle, 09:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2023-12-20 Created: 2023-11-14 Last updated: 2023-12-20
Carlos-Pinedo, S. & Wang, Z. (2022). Assessment of a full-scale solid-state anaerobic co-digestion: A multi-component substrate analysis by using ORWARE. Waste Management, 146, 36-43
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Assessment of a full-scale solid-state anaerobic co-digestion: A multi-component substrate analysis by using ORWARE
2022 (English)In: Waste Management, ISSN 0956-053X, E-ISSN 1879-2456, Vol. 146, p. 36-43Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Long-term sustainable biogas production requires different raw material alternatives, especially when reducing the most desirable organic substrate, food waste, which has been set as a goal in the 2030 Agenda. In Sweden, horse manure (HM) is generated in large quantities, and due to its physical and chemical characteristics, it has the potential to be used as a raw material to produce biogas through anaerobic digestion (AD). In order to investigate the challenges that HM digestion can impose in terms of methane yield and/or digestate quality, the modified ORganic WAste REsearch (ORWARE) AD model was applied. The aim was to study the effects of different substrates and combinations of these on the AD process during a full-scale solid-state (SS)-AD. In this sense, the model allows for the analysis of the digestion process of multicomponent substrates at the element level. The simulation results suggested that the replacement of green waste (GW) by HM with wood chips as bedding material gave the best improvement in terms of energy turnover; the liquid fraction of the digestate of this mixture of substrates presented the highest concentration in all the nutrients analyzed, specifically in total carbon-biological and phosphorus. The nutrient concentrations in the digestate from the aforementioned scenario are in line with the SPCR120 certification.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2022
Keywords
Solid-state co-digestion, Digestate, Full-scale, Horse manure, Modelling
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-38545 (URN)10.1016/j.wasman.2022.04.042 (DOI)000804701700002 ()35561541 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85129712012 (Scopus ID)
Note

Funding agency: Gästrike Återvinnare Utveckling AB

Available from: 2022-05-20 Created: 2022-05-20 Last updated: 2023-12-15Bibliographically approved
Danevad, D. & Carlos-Pinedo, S. (2021). Exploring Interactions Between Fruit and Vegetable Production in a Greenhouse and an Anaerobic Digestion Plant—Environmental Implications. Frontiers in Sustainability, 2, Article ID 770296.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Exploring Interactions Between Fruit and Vegetable Production in a Greenhouse and an Anaerobic Digestion Plant—Environmental Implications
2021 (English)In: Frontiers in Sustainability, E-ISSN 2673-4524, Vol. 2, article id 770296Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Greenhouse fruit and vegetable production uses large amounts of energy and other resources, and finding ways of reducing its impact may increase sustainability. Outputs generated from solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) are suitable for use in greenhouses, which creates a need to investigate the consequences of the possible interactions between them. Connecting the fruit and vegetable production with the resource flows from an SS-AD process, e.g., biogas and digestate, could increase circularity while decreasing the total environmental impact. There are currently no studies where a comprehensive assessment of the material flows between greenhouses and SS-AD are analyzed in combination with evaluation of the environmental impact. In this study, material flow analysis is used to evaluate the effects of adding tomato related waste to the SS-AD, while also using life cycle assessment to study the environmental impact of the system, including production of tomatoes in a greenhouse and the interactions with the SS-AD. The results show that the environmental impact decreases for all evaluated impact categories as compared to a reference greenhouse that used inputs and outputs usually applied in a Swedish context. Using the tomato related waste as a feedstock for SS-AD caused a decrease of biomethane and an increase of carbon dioxide and digestate per ton of treated waste, compared to the digestion of mainly food waste. In conclusion, interactions between a greenhouse and an SS-AD plant can lead to better environmental performance by replacing some of the fertilizer and energy required by the greenhouse.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Frontiers, 2021
Keywords
hydroponic process, greenhouse, life cycle assessment, industrial symbiosis, digestate, tomato, anaerobic digestion (AD)
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-38892 (URN)10.3389/frsus.2021.770296 (DOI)2-s2.0-85158954566 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2022-06-10 Created: 2022-06-10 Last updated: 2024-01-31Bibliographically approved
Carlos-Pinedo, S., Wang, Z., Eriksson, O. & Soam, S. (2020). Study of the digestion process at a full-scale solid-state biogas plant by using ORWARE: Model modification and implementation. Waste Management, 107, 133-142
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Study of the digestion process at a full-scale solid-state biogas plant by using ORWARE: Model modification and implementation
2020 (English)In: Waste Management, ISSN 0956-053X, E-ISSN 1879-2456, Vol. 107, p. 133-142Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The configuration of the reactor influences the digestion process and thus the product yields; other factors such as the rate of biogas production or biogas loss also affect the process specifically with high solid configuration. With these in mind, the ORganic WAste REsearch (ORWARE) anaerobic digestion sub-model was modified to be able to study solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) (using plug-flow reactor). The simulation results from the updated model agreed with the operational data with respect to methane yield, digestate yield and energy turnover. The model was found to be sensitive to changes in feedstock composition but to a lesser extent to changes in process temperature and retention time. By applying the model on several cases of liquid anaerobic digestion (L-AD), it was noticed that L-AD at mesophilic condition with 25 retention days seemed to be superior to other cases of L-AD with regard to energy turnover. However, even if similar methane production were observed for L-AD and SS-AD, the model suggested higher energy turnover for the case of SS-AD at thermophilic condition, being 10% more in average in comparison with cases of L-AD.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2020
Keywords
System assessment model, Solid-state anaerobic digestion, Full-scale, Methane production, Feedstock
National Category
Industrial Biotechnology
Research subject
Sustainable Urban Development
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-32177 (URN)10.1016/j.wasman.2020.03.036 (DOI)000536511400015 ()32283487 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85082933758 (Scopus ID)
Note

The financial support from the Gästrike Återvinnare Utveckling AB and the research foundation Gästrikeregionens miljö is gratefully acknowledged.

Available from: 2020-04-21 Created: 2020-04-21 Last updated: 2023-12-15Bibliographically approved
Carlos-Pinedo, S., Wang, Z. & Eriksson, O. (2019). Methane yield from SS-AD: Experiences to learn by a full spectrum analysis at laboratory-, pilot- and full-scale. Biomass and Bioenergy, 127, Article ID 105270.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Methane yield from SS-AD: Experiences to learn by a full spectrum analysis at laboratory-, pilot- and full-scale
2019 (English)In: Biomass and Bioenergy, ISSN 0961-9534, E-ISSN 1873-2909, Vol. 127, article id 105270Article, review/survey (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) takes place when solid content of the substrate is higher than 15%. Some advantages of this technology have been recognized as e.g., less required water added to raw feedstock and consequently minimized digester size and cost, higher volumetric organic loading rates (OLR) that may lead to higher efficiency methane yield and better acceptance of a wide range of feedstocks. However, scientific studies of SS-AD at pilot- and full-scale are very few and difficulties have been reported in operating SS-AD, especially when the system undergoes a scale-up, where methane production is the purpose. As a result, this review gives a summary of scientific studies for SS-AD processes at laboratory-, pilot- and full-scale, where a great diversity of substrate composition, reactor design and operational parameters have been categorized, and their performances in terms of methane yield have been analyzed. This, in turn, helps to identify that factors affecting methane yields at different scales arise mainly from operational conditions as well as the characteristic of feedstocks. This review even contributes to suggest several strategies for improvement of methane yield at full-scale.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2019
Keywords
Solid-state anaerobic digestion, Methane yield, Improvement
National Category
Other Environmental Engineering
Research subject
no Strategic Research Area (SFO)
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-30037 (URN)10.1016/j.biombioe.2019.105270 (DOI)000478564300033 ()2-s2.0-85067212403 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2019-06-19 Created: 2019-06-19 Last updated: 2024-02-12Bibliographically approved
Carlos-Pinedo, S., Wang, Z. & Eriksson, O.Systems analysis of biogas and digestate utilization pathways with carbon capture: A Life Cycle Assessment and a Material and Energy Balance approach.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Systems analysis of biogas and digestate utilization pathways with carbon capture: A Life Cycle Assessment and a Material and Energy Balance approach
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
National Category
Other Environmental Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-43262 (URN)
Available from: 2023-11-14 Created: 2023-11-14 Last updated: 2023-12-15Bibliographically approved
Organisations
Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0002-2838-6545

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