Converting food waste to renewable energy

Anaerobic digestion

Food waste treatment by anaerobic digestion a promising approach to produce energy and fertilizers. In our research we mainly focus to optimize the reactor conditions to improve the methane recovery from food waste. We have also secured funds from ECF (Environmental Conservation Fund), CRF (Collaborative Research Fund) and GRC (General Research Fund) during different period. Also, faculty research (start-up) grant to conduct similar research. We do basic research to more mechanistic understanding studies in anaerobic digesters.
 

From the results obtained through different phases of research, the following publications were completed.

Davidraj Johnravindar, Obulisamy Parthiba Karthikeyan, Ammaiyappan Selvam, Kumarasamy Murugesan, Jonathan W.C.Wong. 2018. Lipid accumulation potential of oleaginous yeasts: A comparative evaluation using food waste leachate as a substrate. Bioresource Technology. Volume 248, Part A, January 2018, Pages 221-228. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.06.151].

Debkumar Chakraborty, Baljinder Kaur, Karthikeyan Obulisamy, Ammaiyappan Selvam & Jonathan W. C. Wong. 2017. Agrowaste to vanillin conversion by a natural Pediococcus acidilactici strain BD16. Environmental Technology. Volume 38, 2017 - Issue 13-14 [https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2016.1237556].

Debkumar Chakraborty Obulisamy, Parthiba Karthikeyan Ammaiyappan Selvam, Jonathan W.C.Wong. 2017. Co-digestion of food waste and chemically enhanced primary treated sludge in a
continuous stirred tank reactor. Biomass and Bioenergy. Available online 4 July 2017. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2017.06.002].

Obulisamy Parthiba Karthikeyan, Eric Trably, Sanjeet Mehariya, Nicolas Bernet, Jonathan W.C.Wong, Hélène Carrere. Pretreatment of food waste for methane and hydrogen recovery: A review. Bioresource Technology. Available online 20 September 2017. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.09.105].

Chakraborty, D., Selvam, A., Kaur, B., Wong, J.W.C. and Karthikeyan, O.P. 2017 [July]. Application of recombinant Pediococcus acidilactici BD16 (fcs+/ech+) for bioconversion of agrowaste to vanillin. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 101(14): 5615–5626. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8283-8, IF: 3.420].

Wong, J.W.C., Surampalli R.Y., Zhang, T.C., Tyagi, R.D., and Selvam, A. 2016. Sustainable Solid Waste Management, ASCE publications, USA, 2016, 1-728. ISBN 978-0-7844-1410-1 (print); ISBN 978-0-7844-7930-8 (PDF).

Wong, J.W.C., Tyagi, R.D., and Pandey, A. 2016. Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Solid Waste Management, Elsevier Publications, ISBN: 9780444636645.

Selvam, A., and Wong, J.W.C. 2016. Waste Management and Sustainability: An Introduction. In: Wong, J.W.C., Surampalli R.Y., Zhang, T.C., Tyagi, R.D., and Selvam, A. (Eds.), Sustainable Solid Waste Management, ASCE publication, USA, Chapter 1, pp. 1-6, ISBN 978-0-7844-1410-1 (print); ISBN 978-0-7844-7930-8 (PDF).

Joseph, K., Selvam, A., and Wong, J.W.C. 2016. Waste Storage, Segregation and Collection. In: Wong, J.W.C., Surampalli R.Y., Zhang, T.C., Tyagi, R.D., and Selvam, A. (Eds.), Sustainable Solid Waste Management, ASCE publication, USA, Chapter 3, pp. 35-51, ISBN 978-0-7844-1410-1 (print); ISBN 978-0-7844-7930-8 (PDF).

Xu, S.Y., Luo, W., Selvam, A., Wong, J.W.C. Strategies to increase energy recovery from phase-separated anaerobic digestion of organic solid wastes. In: Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Book 5: Solid Waste Management, (Eds.) Wong, J.W.C., Tyagi, R.D., and Pandey, A. Elsevier, Chapter 6. 2016. (ISBN-9780444636645).

Karthikeyan, O.P., Balasubramanian, R., Wong. J.W.C. Pre-treatment of organic solid substrates for bioenergy and biofuels. in Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Solid Waste Management, ed., Wong J.W.C., Tyagi, R., and Pandey, A., Elsevier, July 2016, Chapter 7, 135-156, 2016. (ISBN-9780444636645).

Joseph, K., Selvam, A., and Wong, J.W.C. 2016. Healthcare Waste Management. In: Wong, J.W.C., Surampalli R.Y., Zhang, T.C., Tyagi, R.D., and Selvam, A. (Eds.), Sustainable Solid Waste Management, ASCE publication, USA, Chapter 15, pp. 477-510, ISBN 978-0-7844-1410-1 (print); ISBN 978-0-7844-7930-8 (PDF).

Wong, J.W.C., Suyun, X., Karthikeyan, O.P. 2016. Bioenergy, Bioproduct and Environmental Sustainability. selected papers from International Conference on Solid Waste - Biotechnology for the conversion of wastes into fuels and bioproducts, Bioresource Technology (Special Issue), 217, 1-216 [DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.07.044: ISSN: 0960-8524; Elsevier; IF: 4.917].

Wong, J.W.C., Boopathy, R., Li, R.D., Selvam, A. (Eds.). Advanced Resource Recycling for Waste Reduction and Treatment. selected papers from International Conference on Solid Waste - Biotechnology for the conversion of wastes into fuels and bioproducts, Environmental Technology (Special Issue), In Progress.

Obulisamy, P.K., Chakraborty, D., Selvam, A., Wong, J.W.C. 2016. Anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and chemically enhanced primary-treated sludge under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. Environmental Technology, 37 (24), 3200-3207. [DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2016.1181112; ISSN: 0959-3330; Taylor & Francis; IF: 1.760].

Yan, B.H., Selvam, A., Wong, J.W.C. 2016. Innovative method for increased methane recovery from two-phase anaerobic digestion of food waste through reutilization of acidogenic off-gas in methanogenic reactor. Bioresource Technology, 217, 3-9. [DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.116; ISSN: 0960-8524; Elsevier; IF: 4.917].

Karthikeyan, O.P., Selvam, A., Wong, J.W.C. 2016. Hydrolysis–acidogenesis of food waste in solid–liquid-separating continuous stirred tank reactor (SLS-CSTR) for volatile organic acid production. Bioresource Technology, 200, 366-373 [DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2015.10.017; ISSN: 0960-8524; Elsevier; IF: 4.917].

Luo, L., Xu, S.Y., Selvam, A., Wong, J.W.C. 2016. Assistant role of bioelectrode on methanogenic reactor under ammonia stress. Bioresource Technology, 217, 72-81. [DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.092; ISSN: 0960-8524; Elsevier; IF: 4.917]

Bioelectricity production and biogas upgrading

By proposing a new concept of electromethanogenesis, we have secured a research fund from Environmental Protection Department. In this project, we aim to integrate the Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) to produce energy to drive the Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC) to improve the methane content in biogas. In MFC, the effluent from anaerobic digester will be used, therefore the post-AD methane emission will be reduced. The part of the MFC optimization conditions and results were reported in our last year report. In this report period, we have optimized the MEC conditions such as various voltages, biogas flow rate and anodic substrate concentrations. The biogas conversion efficiency with 0.5 V (78%) and 1 ml/min (92%) biogas flow rate provided better results. The COD concentration were influencing the methane content as well. The overall results indicate that the optimum flow rate for maximum CO2 reduction efficiency is 1 mL/min and 0.5 V.
 

From the research on bioelectrochemistry, the following publications are completed or targeted.
 

Rengasamy Karthikeyan, Ka YuCheng, Ammaiyappan Selvam, Arpita Bose, Jonathan W.C.Wong. Bioelectrohydrogenesis and inhibition of methanogenic activity in microbial electrolysis cells - A review. Biotechnology Advances. Volume 35, Issue 6, 1 November 2017, Pages 758-771 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2017.07.004].

Karthikeyan R, Cheng KY, Selvam A, Bose A, Wong J.W.C. 2017. Bioelectrohydrogenesis and inhibition of methanogenic activity in microbial electrolysis cells - A review. Biotechnology Advances, 35(6):758-771. IF=10.6.

Wong, J., Kurade, M., and Show, K. (2016) On-Site Treatment Systems: Biological Treatment and Nutrient Removal. In: Ngo, H., Guo, W., Surampalli, R., Zhang, T. (Eds), Green Technologies for Sustainable Water Management, American Society of Civil Engineers. USA, Chapter 11, 375-418. doi: 10.1061/9780784414422.

Karthikeyan, R., Selvam, A., Cheng, K.Y., Wong, J.W.C. 2016. Influence of ionic conductivity in bioelectricity production from saline domestic sewage sludge in microbial fuel cells. Bioresource Technology, 200, 845-852. [DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2015.10.101; ISSN: 0960-8524; Elsevier; IF: 4.917]

Karthikeyan, R., Krishnaraj, N., Selvam, A., Wong, J.W.-C., Lee, P.K.H., Leung, M.K.H., Berchmans, S. 2016. Effect of composites based nickel foam anode in microbial fuel cell using Acetobacter aceti and Gluconobacter roseus as a biocatalysts. Bioresource Technology, 217, 113-120. [DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.114; ISSN: 0960-8524; Elsevier; IF: 4.917].

Luo, L., Xu, S.Y., Selvam, A., Wong, J.W.C. Assistance role of bioelectrode on methanogenic reactor under ammonia stress. Bioresource Technology, 217, 72-81 [Doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.092; ISSN: 0960-8524; Elsevier; IF: 4.917].