ANTONIO MORAN - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by ANTONIO MORAN

Energies, 2020

Most biogas plants in the world run under psychrophilic conditions and are operated by small and ... more Most biogas plants in the world run under psychrophilic conditions and are operated by small and medium farmers. There is a gap of knowledge on the performance of these systems after several years of operation. The aim of this research is to provide a complete evaluation of a psychrophilic, low-cost, tubular digester operated for eight years. The thermal performance was monitored for 50 days, and parameters such as pH, total volatile fatty acid (tVFA), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and volatile solids (VS) were measured every week for the influent and effluent. The digester operated at a stabilized slurry temperature of around 17.7 °C, with a mean organic load rate (OLR) equal to 0.52 kg VS/m3digester *d and an estimated hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 25 days. The VS reduction in the digester was around 77.58% and the COD reduction was 67 ± 3%, with a mean value for the effluent of 3.31 ± 1.20 g COD/Lt, while the tVFA decreased by 83.6 ± 15.5% and the presence of coliforms decreas...

Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 2019

This study was aimed at understanding the effect of applied voltage, catholyte and reactor scale ... more This study was aimed at understanding the effect of applied voltage, catholyte and reactor scale on nitrogen recovery from two different organic wastes (digestate and pig slurry) by means of microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) technology. For this purpose, MEC sizes of 100, 500 and 1000 mL were tested at applied voltages of 0.6, 1 and 1.4 V using either a phosphate-buffered solution or NaCl solution as the catholyte. By increasing the reactor size from 500 mL to 1000 mL, a decrease in the ammonia recovery efficiency from 47 to 42 % was observed. The results also showed that the phosphate-buffered solution is preferable as the catholyte and that the voltage applied does not have a noticeable effect on current production and ammonia recovery. Low biodegradability of the wastes was identified as the main bottleneck.

Catalysts

The role of oxygen in anodic biofilms is still a matter of debate. In this study, we tried to elu... more The role of oxygen in anodic biofilms is still a matter of debate. In this study, we tried to elucidate the structure and performance of an electrogenic biofilm that develops on air-exposed, carbon felt electrodes, commonly used in bioelectrochemical systems. By simultaneously recording the current density produced by the bioanode and dissolved oxygen concentration, both inside and in the vicinity of the biofilm, it was possible to demonstrate the influence of a protective aerobic layer present in the biofilm (mainly formed by Pseudomonas genus bacteria) that prevents electrogenic bacteria (such as Geobacter sp.) from hazardous exposure to oxygen during its normal operation. Once this protective barrier was deactivated for a long period of time, the catalytic capacity of the biofilm was severely affected. In addition, our results highlighted the importance of the material’s porous structure for oxygen penetration in the electrode.

Applied Sciences, 2021

The energy balance of lean-burn turbocharged engines using biogas as fuel is reported. Digestion ... more The energy balance of lean-burn turbocharged engines using biogas as fuel is reported. Digestion data were obtained from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of the city of Burgos (Spain), operating with a thermal hydrolysis unit for sludge pre-treatment. Operational performance of the plant was studied by considering the treatment of sludge as a comparative base for analyzing global plant performance if co-digestion is implemented for increasing biogas production. The calculation methodology was based on equations derived from the engine efficiency parameters provided by the manufacturer. Results from real data engine performance when evaluated in isolation as a unique control volume, reported an electrical efficiency of 38.2% and a thermal efficiency of 49.8% leading to a global efficiency of 88% at the operating point. The gross electrical power generated amounted to 1039 kW, which translates into 9102 MWh/year, with an economic value of 837,384 €/year which was completely consu...

Science of The Total Environment, 2020

The compound 2-mercaptobenzothizaole (MBT) has been frequently detected in wastewater and surface... more The compound 2-mercaptobenzothizaole (MBT) has been frequently detected in wastewater and surface water and is a potential threat to both aquatic organisms and human health (its mutagenic potential has been demonstrated). This study investigated the degradation routes of MBT in the anode of a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) and the involved microbial communities. The results indicated that graphene-modified anodes promoted the presence of more enriched, developed, and specific communities compared to bare anodes. Moreover, consecutive additions of the OH substituent to the benzene ring of MBT were only detected in the reactor equipped with the graphenetreated electrode. Both phenomena, together with the application of an external voltage, may be related to the larger reduction of biotoxicity observed in the MEC equipped with graphene-modified anodes (46.2 eqtox•m-3 to 27.9 eqtox•m-3).

Fuel, 2020

The aim of this study is to evaluate the integration of microbial electrochemical technologies (M... more The aim of this study is to evaluate the integration of microbial electrochemical technologies (MET) with anaerobic digestion (AD) to overcome AD limitations caused by propionate accumulation. The study focuses on understanding to what extent the inoculum impacts on the behaviour of the integrated systems (AD-MET) from the perspective of propionate degradation, methane production and microbial population dynamics. Three different inocula were used: two from environmental sources (anaerobic sludge and river sediment) and another one from a pre-enriched electroactive consortium adapted to propionate degradation. Contrary to expectations, the reactor inoculated with the pre-enriched consortium was not able to maintain its initial good performance in the long run, and the bioelectrochemical activity collapsed after three months of operation. In contrast, the reactor inoculated with anaerobic sludge, although it required a relatively longer time to produce any observable current, was able to maintain the electrogenic activity operation (0.8 A.m-2) as well as the positive contribution of AD-MET integration to tackle propionate accumulation and to enhance methane yield (338 mL.gCOD-1). However, it must also be highlighted that from a purely energetic point of view the AD-MET was not favorable.

Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 2020

The large cost of components used in microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) reactors represents an imp... more The large cost of components used in microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) reactors represents an important limitation that is delaying the commercial implementation of this technology. In this work, we explore the feasibility of using pyrolysed almond shells (PAS) as a material for producing low-cost anodes for use in MEC systems. This was done by comparing the microbial populations that developed on the surface of PAS bioanodes with those present on the carbon felt (CF) bioanodes traditionally used in MECs. Raw almond shells were pyrolysed at three different temperatures, obtaining the best conductive material at the highest temperature (1000°C). The behaviour of this material was then verified using a single-chamber cell. Subsequently, the main test was carried out using two-chamber cells and the microbial populations extant on each of the bioanodes were analysed. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for eubacterial populations was carried out in order to compare the microbial communities attached to each type of electrode. The microbial populations on each electrode were also quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (realtime PCR) to determine the amount of bacteria capable of growing on the electrodes' surface. The results indicated that the newly developed PAS bioanodes possess a biofilm similar to those found on the surface of traditional CF electrodes.

Frontiers in Energy Research, 2019

Energies, 2019

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) is a term that encompasses a group of novel technologies able t... more Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) is a term that encompasses a group of novel technologies able to interconvert electrical energy and chemical energy by means of a bioelectroactive biofilm. Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) systems, which branch off from BESs, are able to convert CO2 into valuable organic chemicals and fuels. This study demonstrates that CO2 reduction in MES systems can be enhanced by enriching the inoculum and improving CO2 availability to the biofilm. The proposed system is proven to be a repetitive, efficient, and selective way of consuming CO2 for the production of acetic acid, showing cathodic efficiencies of over 55% and CO2 conversions of over 80%. Continuous recirculation of the gas headspace through the catholyte allowed for a 44% improvement in performance, achieving CO2 fixation rates of 171 mL CO2 L−1·d−1, a maximum daily acetate production rate of 261 mg HAc·L−1·d−1, and a maximum acetate titer of 1957 mg·L−1. High-throughput sequencing revealed that CO2...

Biochemical Engineering Journal, 2018

In this study, the effects on process performance and changes in microbial populations with the a... more In this study, the effects on process performance and changes in microbial populations with the addition of biochar to the anaerobic digestion of sludge and orange peels were evaluated. Biochar had a positive influence in batch digestions, leading to a decrease in the lag phase and an increase in methane yields; this was even more evident for citrus peel wastes, which reached an increase of approximately 33% when 10 g L-1 of biochar was added and 56% when 30 g L-1 was added. Particle size analysis performed for the AD Anaerobic digestion SS Sewage sludge CEO Citrus essential oil qe Adsorption capacity PCR Polymerase chain reaction OTUs Operational Taxonomic Units PCA Principal components analysis DIET Direct interspecies electrons transfer SSA Specific surface area PSD Particle size distribution SMP Specific Methane potential 2 experiments shows greater surface area available in biochar systems for biomass immobilization. Analysis of the microbial communities by means of 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing shows that the biochar addition favoured the electro-active microorganisms consortia creating a synthrophic metabolism between eubacterial and archaeal populations, which resulted in an improvement of the anaerobic digestion performance. The codigestion of the mixture under a semicontinuous regimen showed an improvement in methane yields of approximately 60% and at hydraulic retention times of 30-20 days (reaching methane production values above 500 L CH4 kg VS-1 at an OLR of 1.49 kg VS m-3 d-1). The enhancement observe in biochar supplemented fermentations may be explained by the adsorption of inhibitors and the relatively high surface area favoured the adhesion and growth of microorganisms.

Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) encompass a group of biobased technologies capable of directly c... more Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) encompass a group of biobased technologies capable of directly converting organic matter into electricity. In these systems, which are derived from conventional electrochemical systems, the ion exchange membrane represents a key element because of its influence on the economic feasibility and on the performance of BES. This study examines the impact of long-term operation of a BES on the mechanical, chemical and electrochemical properties of five different kind of cation exchange membranes (Nafion-117, CMI-7001, Zirfon UTP 500, FKE and FKB) through several techniques: (i) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to assess the changes on the membranes surface, (ii) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to evaluate the structural stability of the membranes, and (iii) ion exchange capacity (IEC) to monitor any change in their electrochemical properties. Results confirmed that there is not an ideal membrane for BES. While Nafion an...

Materials, 2017

The development and practical implementation of bioelectrochemical systems (BES) requires an in-d... more The development and practical implementation of bioelectrochemical systems (BES) requires an in-depth characterisation of their components. The electrodes, which are critical elements, are usually built from carbon-based materials due to their high specific surface area, biocompatibility and chemical stability. In this study, a simple methodology to electrochemically characterise carbon-based electrodes has been developed, derived from conventional electrochemical analyses. Combined with classical electrochemical theory and the more innovative fractal geometry approach, our method is aimed at comparing and characterising the performance of carbon electrodes through the determination of the electroactive surface and its fractal dimension. Overall, this methodology provides a quick and easy method for the screening of suitable electrode materials to be implemented in BES.

Chemical Engineering Journal, 2015

The biological production of H 2 by dark fermentation is being extensively investigated due to th... more The biological production of H 2 by dark fermentation is being extensively investigated due to the great potential of the two-phase hydrogen/methane fermentation process for recovering energy from carbohydrate-rich wastes. However, the purification of the bio-hydrogen and biogas obtained is needed to produce high-purity H 2 and CH 4 streams appropriate for industrial application. In this study, the performance of three activated carbons (No1KCla-600, No1KClb-1000 and No2OS-1000), synthesized from phenol-formaldehyde resins, as potential adsorbents for CO 2 capture from bio-hydrogen and biogas streams has been evaluated under dynamic conditions. Adsorptiondesorption cycles by means of temperature swings were conducted at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure with CO 2 /H 2 (40/60 and 70/30 vol.% at normal conditions) and CO 2 /CH 4 (50/50 vol.% at normal conditions) binary gas mixtures in a purpose-built fixed-bed setup. The performance of the resin-derived carbons to separate CO 2 was superior to that of reference commercial carbons in terms of CO 2 uptake, breakthrough time and column efficiency. These adsorbents presented high

Water, 2015

The aim of this work was to study the effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on sludge digestion, part... more The aim of this work was to study the effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on sludge digestion, particle size distribution (PSD), and dewaterability of digestates (measured by capillary suction time (CST) and specific resistance to filtration (SRF)). Sludge was pretreated with ultrasound (24 kHz) at an energy dosage of 4300 kJ/kg TS. Digestibility of sludge was increased by ultrasound pretreatment resulting in a higher specific methane production (SMP). The digestate of pretreated waste activated sludge (WAS) obtained under batch conditions presented a better dewatering performance. Digestion under semi-continuous conditions was evaluated using sewage sludge (mixture of primary sludge and WAS). In this case, digestates presented a much higher mean particle size for both cases evaluated (pretreated and non-pretreated) than that obtained under batch conditions. A wide PSD was a characteristic of these digestate samples. Flow dynamics inside the reactor resulted in the presence of high-diameter flocs, thus significantly affecting the mean particle size and specific surface area (SSA) values.

Frontiers in Energy Research, 2014

Globally, large amounts of electrical energy are spent every year for domestic wastewater (dWW) t... more Globally, large amounts of electrical energy are spent every year for domestic wastewater (dWW) treatment. In the future, energy prices are expected to rise as the demand for energy resources increases and fossil fuel reserves become depleted. By using appropriate technologies, the potential chemical energy contained in the organic compounds present in dWWs might help to improve the energy and economic balance of dWW treatment plants. Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) in general and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) in particular represent an emerging technology capable of harvesting part of this energy. This study offers an overview of the potential of using MEC technology in domestic wastewater treatment plants (dWWTPs) to reduce the energy bill. It begins with a brief account of the basics of BESs, followed by an examination of how MECs can be integrated in dWWTPs, identifying scaling-up bottlenecks and estimating potential energy savings. A simplified analysis showed that the use of MEC technology may help to reduce up tõ 20% the energy consumption in a conventional dWWTP. The study concludes with a discussion of the future perspectives of MEC technology for dWW treatment. The growing rates of municipal water and wastewater treatment markets in Europe offer excellent business prospects and it is expected that the first generation of MECs could be ready within 1-4 years. However, before MEC technology may achieve practical implementation in dWWTPs, it need not only to overcome important techno-economic challenges, but also to compete with other energy-producing technologies.

Waste Management, 2010

Mesophilic anaerobic digestion (34 ± 1°C) of pre-treated (for 20 min at 133°C, >3 bar) slaughterh... more Mesophilic anaerobic digestion (34 ± 1°C) of pre-treated (for 20 min at 133°C, >3 bar) slaughterhouse waste and its co-digestion with the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) have been assessed. Semi-continuously-fed digesters worked with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 36 d and organic loading rates (OLR) of 1.2 and 2.6 kg VS feed /m 3 d for digestion and co-digestion, respectively, with a previous acclimatization period in all cases. It was not possible to carry out an efficient treatment of hygienized waste, even less so when OFMSW was added as co-substrate. These digesters presented volatile fatty acids (VFA), long chain fatty acids (LCFA) and fats accumulation, leading to instability and inhibition of the degradation process. The aim of applying a heat and pressure pre-treatment to promote splitting of complex lipids and nitrogen-rich waste into simpler and more biodegradable constituents and to enhance biogas production was not successful. These results indicate that the temperature and the high pressure of the pre-treatment applied favoured the formation of compounds that are refractory to anaerobic digestion. The pre-treated slaughterhouse wastes and the final products of these systems were analyzed by FTIR and TGA. These tools verified the existence of complex nitrogen-containing polymers in the final effluents, confirming the formation of refractory compounds during pre-treatment.

Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 2013

The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with p... more The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden.

Fuel, 2006

This study has two aims: to improve the biodesulphurization of a semi-anthracite by packed-column... more This study has two aims: to improve the biodesulphurization of a semi-anthracite by packed-column leaching by reducing the insoluble sulphate on the coal surface, and to determine whether after the combustion of treated and untreated coal, sulphate sulphur is transformed completely into sulphur dioxide or part remains in the ashes without reacting. Combustion tests were analysed by TG-MS. To reduce the precipitation of salts, two parameters are worked on: solution pH, which is reduced to 1.3, and the idle time between washes (ITBW), which is altered. After 125 days of treatment, comparison with the results of previous studies showed that the precipitated salt content was reduced pyritic desulphurization was increased up to 43%, and total desulphurization to 24%.

Fuel Processing Technology, 2004

Rice growing engenders large quantities of straw, which is usually burnt in the open field, a pra... more Rice growing engenders large quantities of straw, which is usually burnt in the open field, a practice implying a public health risk. There are, however, several ways of making use of this material, including its conversion into a valuable fuel. The aims of this research are to describe the thermal characteristics of the heating processes of rice straw in different