Using Biokinetic Modeling and Dielectric Monitoring to Assess Anaerobic Digestion of Meat-Processing Sludge Pretreated with Microwave Irradiation and Magnetic Nanoparticles

Jákói, Zoltán Péter and Illés, Erzsébet and Dobozi, Réka and Beszédes, Sándor (2026) Using Biokinetic Modeling and Dielectric Monitoring to Assess Anaerobic Digestion of Meat-Processing Sludge Pretreated with Microwave Irradiation and Magnetic Nanoparticles. WATER, 18 (3). No. 293. ISSN 2073-4441

Preview

Text water-18-00293.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of microwave (MW) pre-treatment (45 kJ total irradiated microwave energy) and magnetic nanoparticles (MPs) on the anaerobic digestion (AD) of meat-processing sludge, integrating biokinetic modeling with dielectric parameter measurements. Five different sludge variants were examined: native (non-treated control); MP-only control; microwave pre-treated sludge, and MW + MP combination with the nanoparticles either retained in the fermentation medium or removed prior to anaerobic digestion. Cumulative biomethane production was evaluated using the modified Gompertz, Logistic, and Weibull models, and key kinetic parameters (maximum achievable methane yield, maximum rate of product formation, and λ-values) were compared across the different treatments. The results revealed that the highest production rate, along with the highest biomethane potential, could be achieved when combining MW treatment with magnetic nanoparticles which were retained in the fermentation medium during AD. Based on the biokinetic analysis, this combined method increased biomethane potential by 52% to 390 mL CH4/gVS and maximum methane production rate by 85% to 37 mL CH4/gVS/day compared to the untreated control. The measurement of relative permittivity (ε′) exhibited progressive changes during digestion, and the maximum rate of change in ε′ strongly correlated with the maximum methane production rate across all samples (R2 > 0.98). These results highlight the potential of microwave–metal oxide nanoparticle pre-treatment for process enhancement and to demonstrate the suitability of dielectric parameter measurement as a rapid, non-invasive indicator of biochemical activity during anaerobic digestion.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item