Horse manure as feedstock for anaerobic digestion.
Abstract: Horse keeping is of great economic, social and environmental benefit for society, but causes environmental impacts throughout the whole chain from feed production to manure treatment. According to national statistics, the number of horses in Sweden is continually increasing and is currently approximately 360,000. This in turn leads to increasing amounts of horse manure that have to be managed and treated. Current practices could cause local and global environmental impacts due to poor performance or lack of proper management. Horse manure with its content of nutrients and organic material can however contribute to fertilisation of arable land and recovery of renewable energy following anaerobic digestion. At present anaerobic digestion of horse manure is not a common treatment. In this paper the potential for producing biogas and biofertiliser from horse manure is analysed based on a thorough literature review in combination with mathematical modelling and simulations. Anaerobic digestion was chosen as it has a high degree of resource conservation, both in terms of energy (biogas) and nutrients (digestate). Important factors regarding manure characteristics and operating factors in the biogas plant are identified. Two crucial factors are the type and amount of bedding material used, which has strong implications for feedstock characteristics, and the type of digestion method applied (dry or wet process). Straw and waste paper are identified as the best materials in an energy point of view. While the specific methane yield decreases with a high amount of bedding, the bedding material still makes a positive contribution to the energy balance. Thermophilic digestion increases the methane generation rate and yield, compared with mesophilic digestion, but the total effect is negligible.
Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Date: 2016-07-07 PubMed ID: 27396682DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2016.06.023Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research conducted explores the potential of using horse manure as a resource for anaerobic digestion to produce renewable energy in the form of biogas and biofertiliser. The study is anchored on data derived from literature review, mathematical modelling, and simulations.
Study Premise
- Horse keeping is acknowledged to bring various benefits including economic, social, and environmental value. However, it also creates environmental challenges mainly linked to manure treatment.
- Due to the increasing horse population, particularly in Sweden (currently about 360,000), the amount of horse manure is also on the rise. Therefore, finding effective ways of managing this waste is crucial to mitigate local and global environmental impacts.
- The research focuses on the untapped potential of horse manure for anaerobic digestion to produce biogas and biofertiliser. Although this isn’t an established practice yet, the authors argue that it could offer significant benefits.
Anaerobic Digestion of Horse Manure
- Anaerobic digestion was chosen because of its high resource conservation potential. It not only generates energy (biogas) but also recycles nutrients (through the production of the digestate which can serve as biofertiliser).
- The research identified specific factors that significantly influence manure characteristics and the operations of the biogas plant. Among these, the type and volume of the used bedding material and the installed digestion method (dry or wet process) are the most crucial.
- In terms of energy, straw and waste paper are identified as the optimal bedding materials. While large amounts of bedding reduce the specific methane yield, they still offer a positive effect in the overall energy balance.
- The paper also notes that thermophilic digestion results in a higher methane generation rate and yield than its mesophilic counterpart. However, the difference in their impact is considered negligible.
Conclusion
- In summary, the study underscores the potential of horse manure as a valuable resource for bioenergy production and nutrient recycling through anaerobic digestion.
- It also pinpoints key variables that should be considered for efficient digestion process and optimal energy recovery. These include the choice of bedding materials and the adoption of appropriate digestion techniques.
Cite This Article
APA
Hadin S, Eriksson O.
(2016).
Horse manure as feedstock for anaerobic digestion.
Waste Manag, 56, 506-518.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.06.023 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Building, Energy and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Sustainable Development, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, S-801 76 Gävle, Sweden. Electronic address: asa.hadin@hig.se.
- Department of Building, Energy and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Sustainable Development, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, S-801 76 Gävle, Sweden.
MeSH Terms
- Anaerobiosis
- Animals
- Biodegradation, Environmental
- Biofuels / analysis
- Bioreactors
- Horses
- Manure / analysis
- Methane / analysis
- Sweden
- Waste Management / methods
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