Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications
Open Access
ISSN: 2090-4541
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2090-4541
+44 1300 500008
M.K. Ogun and I Korner
Hamburg University of Technology, Germany
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Fundam Renewable Energy Appl
Statement of problem: The wastepaper recycling industry produce different residues, among which is the deinking
sludge (DS). The DS is generated from the deinking process and constitutes a major fraction of the residues generated
by the European pulp and paper industry. The traditional treatment of DS by incineration is capital intensive due to
energy requirement for dewatering and the need for complementary fuel source due to DS low calorific value. This
could be replaced by a biotechnological approach. This study therefore investigated the biogas potential of different
DS streams (different dewatering degrees) and the influence of its high calcium carbonate content of DS on its biogas
potential.
Method: Dewatered DS (solid fraction) sample from filter press and the filtrate (liquid fraction) were collected
from a partner wastepaper recycling company in Germany. The solid fraction and the liquid fraction were mixed in
proportion to realize DS with different water content [55 â?? 91% Fresh Mass]. Spiked samples of DS using deionized
water, cellulose and calcium carbonate were prepared to simulate DS with varying calcium carbonate content [0â??
40% Dry Matter]. Biogas potential was studied using a 1-Liter batch test system under mesophilic condition and ran
for 21 days.
Results and Conclusions: A specific biogas potential in the range 133- 230 NL/kg organic dry matters was observed
for DS samples investigated. An optimal dewatering degree corresponding to a water content of about 70% fresh
mass was identified for the biogas production of DS. No inhibitory influence was observed in the biogas potential
of spiked DS samples due to the reported high calcium carbonate content of DS. This study confirms that DS is a
potential bioresource for biogas production. Further optimization such as Nitrogen supplementation due to DS high
C/N ratio can increase biogas yield.
Recent Publications
1. Amare D, Ogun M K and Ina K (2019) Anaerobic treatment of deinking sludge: Methane production and
organic matter degradation. Waste Management 85:417-424.
2. Steffen F and Saake B (2017) Valorization of waste streams from deinked pulp mills through anaerobic digestion
of deinking sludge. Bio Resources 12(3):4547- 4566.
3. Kinnunen V, Ylä-Outinen, A and Rintala J (2015) Mesophilic anaerobic digestion of pulp and paper industry bio
sludgeâ??long-term reactor performance and effects of thermal pretreatment. Water Research 87:105-111.
Moses Ogun has his expertise in Environmental Technology. He is a Research Engineer at the Hamburg University of Technology. In his last research he worked on the photocatalysis of recalcitrant organics in wastewater effluent. For over four years now he has engaged himself in finding alternative approach for the treatment of deinking sludges produced by the wastepaper recycling industry. His strategies are mainly biological approach and reuse options.
E-mail: m.ogun@tuhh.de