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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Bowling Green, Kentucky » Food Animal Environmental Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #356298
Research Project: Developing Safe, Efficient and Environmentally Sound Management Practices for the Use of Animal Manure

Location: Food Animal Environmental Systems Research

Title: Sound enhances wastewater degradation and improves anaerobic digester performance

Author
item Loughrin, John
item Lovanh, Nanh
item Antle, Stacy
item Bryant, Michael
item BERRY, ZACHARY - Western Kentucky University

Submitted to: Springer Nature Applied Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/29/2019
Publication Date: 5/7/2019
Citation: Loughrin, J.H., Lovanh, N.C., Antle, S.W., Bryant, M.D., Berry, Z.P. 2019. Sound enhances wastewater degradation and improves anaerobic digester performance. Springer Nature Applied Sciences. Volume 1/ page 533. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-0546-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-0546-9

Interpretive Summary: Gas production and wastewater quality from anaerobic digesters were studied to determine if sound at sonic frequencies (<20,000 Hertz) could enhance their performance. In three trials with increasing wastewater strength, each of 100-day duration, the performance of control and sound treated digesters were compared. Anaerobic digesters exposed to sound produced approximately twelve percent more biogas than did non-exposed digesters and sound treated digestate had significantly improved wastewater quality. Sludge at the end of the 100-day digestion averaged 19 percent less carbon and 18 percent less nitrogen in sound treated digesters than did sludge from untreated digesters also indicative of enhanced waste breakdown. Although the mechanism(s) responsible for enhanced biogas production due to sound exposure are unknown, recordings of sound-treated digesters indicate that enhanced bubble formation and bursting (cavitation) may play a role.

Technical Abstract: Biogas production and wastewater quality from anaerobic digesters were studied to determine if sound at sonic frequencies (<20,000 Hertz) could enhance their performance. In three trials with increasing waste loading rates, each of 100-day duration, the performance of control and sound treated digesters were compared. Anaerobic digesters exposed to sound produced approximately twelve percent more biogas than did non-exposed digesters and sound treated digestate had significantly lower chemical oxygen demand. Sludge at the end of the 100-day digestion averaged 19 percent less carbon and 18 percent less nitrogen in sound treated digesters than did sludge from untreated digesters. Although the mechanism(s) responsible for enhanced biogas production due to sound exposure are unknown, recordings of sound-treated digesters indicate that enhanced cavitation may play a role.