| dc.description.abstract | Sole dependence on fossil fuel and the concomitant environmental concerns could be minimized through the optimization of green energy generation from the growing volume of onfarm organic wastes. In this mesophilic study, green energy, mainly methane, was optimized through the solid-state anerobic co-digestion (SSAD) of two on-farm organic wastes (dairy manure with corn stover). Factors considered to achieve the improved methane yield under a total solids of 16% were particle size of corn stover (0.18 – 0.42 and 0.42 – 0.84 mm), alkaline pretreatment type (thermo-chemical and wet state), alkaline-pretreatment reagent (NaOH, NH4OH, and Ca(OH)2) used for the corn stover, and the magnetite nanoparticles(20, 50, and 75 mg/L) thereafter added to the treatment with highest methane yield. Kinetic models were used to describe some of the high methane yield as well as the environmental impact investigated with life cycle assessment. Results indicated that corn stover with particle size 0.42 - 0.84 mm blended with dairy manure under a C/N of 24 had the highest methane yield (106 L/ kgVS) under 60 days retention time. After pretreatment of the 0.42 - 0.84 mm corn stover with the three different alkaline reagents, methane yield improved under this wet state pretreatment relative to thermochemical. For instance, calcium pretreated corn stover blended with dairy manure (CaW) had the highest methane yield (176 L / kgVS) under a reduced retention time (79 days), overcame potential volatile fatty acids accumulation and digester upset relative to other pretreated treatments. Furthermore, addition of 20 mg of the nanoparticles to the CaW treatment further enhanced methane yield (191 L / kg VS), minimized digester upset, and reduced retention time to 52 days. Suitable process parameters for methanogenic activities were 0.1 - 0.5 for VFA/Ammonia and VFA/Alkalinity ratios. Free ammonia concentration between 258 – 347 mg/L does not affect methanogenic activities. Environmnetal impact aseessment indicated that pretreatment negatively influenced human health factors and eutrophication potentials though reduced ozone depletion, global warming potential, and smog potentials. The solid-state of dairy manure co-digested with corn stover has the potential to improve green energy generation that could complement fossil fuel and address waste management challenges. | en_US |
