Hydroxycinnamic acid extraction from prairie biomass for enhancing performance in anaerobic digestion

Author(s): Elmin Rahic, Cooper Hess, Robert Brown, Zhiyou Wen

Abstract:

This study explores the hydroxycinnamic acid extraction from prairie biomass as a potential value-added pretreatment for enhancing the performance of anaerobic digestion. Pretreatment increased the biomethane potential of prairie biomass by 33%; when the extraction residue was left on the biomass, the biomethane potential increased by 100%. When the treated biomass was co-digested with manure, a 134% and 25% increase in methane productivity and methane content was obtained, respectively, relative to raw biomass co-digested with manure. Hydroxycinnamic acid extraction also improved anaerobic digestion performance under biochar supplementation and liquid digestate recirculation conditions. Lastly, the extraction process was optimized for hydroxycinnamic acid yield. It was found that increases in treatment temperature and time could further increase yield by 5%. Collectively, the results show hydroxycinnamic acid extraction can be used as a highly effective pretreatment for improving the anaerobic digestion of prairie biomass.

Funder: USDA NIFA

Award Title:

Consortium for Cultivating Human And Naturally reGenerative Enterprises: Grass2Gas

Award Number: 2020-68012-31824

Keywords:

anaerobic digestion, biorefinery, hydroxycinnamic acid, prairie biomass, pretreatment

Project (Abbreviated name):

G2G_Wen_hydroxycinnamic_acids

Team: Grass2Gas

Geographic Location:

The state of Iowa

Families:

Bovidae

Species:

Bos taurus

Full Metadata:

Metadata for G2G_Wen_hydroxycinnamic_acids_0.pdf (327.2 KB)

Data Mirror:

Data Table Column Names and Descriptions

table name	Column name	Data type	Units	Column description
data.dataset_AD_biogas_methane_yield	biogas methane proportion	float	NA	Biogas composition was measured using gas chromatography with thermal conductivity detector operated at 100°C and HP-PLOT/Q column (30 m — 0.32 mm — 0.02 mm) 50°C. Helium was used as the carrier gas with a flow rate of 2 mL/min (Zhou et al., 2019).
data.dataset_AD_biogas_methane_yield	biogas yield ml per g vs fed per day	float	milliliter	Biogas yield was measured by continuously venting each reactor into a water displacement column containing H2SO4 solution (0.5N). Daily biogas production was measured by the volume of the displaced liquid and corrected to mL of biogas produced per gram of volatile solids fed to the digester, per day.
data.dataset_AD_biogas_methane_yield	dataset AD biogas methane yield pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key for this table.
data.dataset_AD_biogas_methane_yield	digestion conditions	string	NA	One of four treatments assigned to the digester for anaerobic digestion. The feed was kept identical (2:1 prairie to manure) for all digesters during the first 14 days to ensure replicability between digesters. DI water was added to the feed to adjust solids content to 10%. The feeding rate was based on a 30-day hydraulic retention time. The digesters were incubated in a shaker at 35°C with continuous agitation (120 rpm). On day 14, the feed was switched to a feedstock containing a specified type of prairie biomass mixed with manure based on the experimental design.
data.dataset_AD_biogas_methane_yield	hca extraction process	string	NA	The method used to extract hydroxycinnamic acids from the prairie biomass prior to anaerobic digestion.
data.dataset_AD_biogas_methane_yield	methane yield ml per g vs fed per day	float	milliliter	The methane yield reported in mL of methane produced per gram of volatile solids fed to the digester, per day.
data.dataset_AD_biogas_methane_yield	sample number	integer	number	Samples were taken every feeding day (every other day) after the reactor had achieved steady-state operations around day 90. Each 2x4 treatment was assigned to one reactor, which was sampled multiple times.
data.dataset_AD_prairie_manure_ratio_methane_yield	dataset AD prairie manure ratio methane yield pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key for this table.
data.dataset_AD_prairie_manure_ratio_methane_yield	days since experiment start	integer	number	A count of days since measurements began. Measurements began 14 days after loading. For the first 14 days, all digesters were fed raw prairie biomass and manure daily at a 2:1 (g VS:g VS) ratio.
data.dataset_AD_prairie_manure_ratio_methane_yield	hca extraction process	string	NA	The method used to extract hydroxycinnamic acids from the prairie biomass prior to anaerobic digestion.
data.dataset_AD_prairie_manure_ratio_methane_yield	methane yield ml per g vs fed per day	float	milliliter	The mean methane yield of three replicates reported in mL of methane produced per gram of volatile solids fed to the digester, per day.
data.dataset_AD_prairie_manure_ratio_methane_yield	prairie to manure ratio	string	NA	The ratio of prairie to manure fed to the digester, by weight of volatile solids.
data.dataset_AD_total_ammonia_n_and_ph	dataset AD total ammonia n and ph pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key for this table.
data.dataset_AD_total_ammonia_n_and_ph	digestion conditions	string	NA	One of four treatments assigned to the digester for anaerobic digestion. The feed was kept identical (2:1 prairie to manure) for all digesters during the first 14 days to ensure replicability between digesters. DI water was added to the feed to adjust solids content to 10%. The feeding rate was based on a 30-day hydraulic retention time. The digesters were incubated in a shaker at 35°C with continuous agitation (120 rpm). On day 14, the feed was switched to a feedstock containing a specified type of prairie biomass mixed with manure based on the experimental design.
data.dataset_AD_total_ammonia_n_and_ph	hca extraction process	string	NA	The method used to extract hydroxycinnamic acids from the prairie biomass prior to anaerobic digestion.
data.dataset_AD_total_ammonia_n_and_ph	ph	float	dimensionless	The pH of the liquid digestate.
data.dataset_AD_total_ammonia_n_and_ph	sample number	integer	number	Samples were taken every feeding day (every other day) after the reactor had achieved steady-state operations around day 90. Each 2x4 treatment was assigned to one reactor, which was sampled multiple times.
data.dataset_AD_total_ammonia_n_and_ph	total nh3 n ppm	float	NA	The concentration of ammonia in the liquid digestate. Ammonia concentration was measured using Hach TNT 832 Ammonia test kit.
data.dataset_AD_total_phenolic_content	dataset AD total phenolic content pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key for this table.
data.dataset_AD_total_phenolic_content	digestion conditions	string	NA	One of four treatments assigned to the digester for anaerobic digestion. The feed was kept identical (2:1 prairie to manure) for all digesters during the first 14 days to ensure replicability between digesters. DI water was added to the feed to adjust solids content to 10%. The feeding rate was based on a 30-day hydraulic retention time. The digesters were incubated in a shaker at 35°C with continuous agitation (120 rpm). On day 14, the feed was switched to a feedstock containing a specified type of prairie biomass mixed with manure based on the experimental design.
data.dataset_AD_total_phenolic_content	hca extraction process	string	NA	The method used to extract hydroxycinnamic acids from the prairie biomass prior to anaerobic digestion.
data.dataset_AD_total_phenolic_content	sample number	integer	number	Samples were taken every feeding day (every other day) after the reactor had achieved steady-state operations around day 90. Each 2x4 treatment was assigned to one reactor, which was sampled multiple times.
data.dataset_AD_total_phenolic_content	tpc mg per ml gallic acid equivalent	float	milligramPerMilliliter	The total phenolic content of the liquid digestate, measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method (Blainski et al., 2013) and reported as mg per mL of gallic acid equivalents.
data.dataset_HCA_acetyl_bromide_soluble_lignin_content	absorbance	float	dimensionless	Absorbance reading from spectrophotometer.
data.dataset_HCA_acetyl_bromide_soluble_lignin_content	acetyl bromide soluble lignin	float	NA	The percent mass of the sample composed of acetyl bromide soluble lignin based on sample absorbance.
data.dataset_HCA_acetyl_bromide_soluble_lignin_content	dataset HCA acetyl bromide soluble lignin content pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key for this table.
data.dataset_HCA_acetyl_bromide_soluble_lignin_content	hca extraction process	string	NA	The method used to extract hydroxycinnamic acids from the prairie biomass prior to anaerobic digestion.
data.dataset_HCA_acetyl_bromide_soluble_lignin_content	mass	float	gram	Mass of the spectrophotometer sample in grams.
data.dataset_HCA_cumulative_and_specieswise_hca_yield	cumulative hca yield g per kg	float	NA	The combined mean concentration of p-coumaric and ferulic acids reported in grams per kilogram.
data.dataset_HCA_cumulative_and_specieswise_hca_yield	dataset HCA cumulative and specieswise hca yield pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key for this table.
data.dataset_HCA_cumulative_and_specieswise_hca_yield	ferulic acid average g per kg	float	NA	The mean concentration of ferulic acid reported in grams per kilogram.
data.dataset_HCA_cumulative_and_specieswise_hca_yield	ferulic acid average ppm	float	NA	The mean concentration of ferulic acid reported in parts per million.
data.dataset_HCA_cumulative_and_specieswise_hca_yield	hca extraction process	string	NA	The method used to extract hydroxycinnamic acids from the prairie biomass prior to anaerobic digestion.
data.dataset_HCA_cumulative_and_specieswise_hca_yield	p coumaric acid average g per kg	float	NA	The mean concentration of p-coumaric acid across reported in grams per kilogram.
data.dataset_HCA_cumulative_and_specieswise_hca_yield	p coumaric acid average ppm	float	NA	The mean concentration of p-coumaric acid across reported in parts per million.
data.dataset_HCA_cumulative_and_specieswise_hca_yield	replicate	float	number	The sample replicate.
data.dataset_batch_AD_hca_extraction_wash_methane_yield	dataset batch AD hca extraction wash methane yield pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key for this table.
data.dataset_batch_AD_hca_extraction_wash_methane_yield	days since experiment start	integer	number	A count of days since initial loading.
data.dataset_batch_AD_hca_extraction_wash_methane_yield	hca extraction process	string	NA	The method used to extract hydroxycinnamic acids from the prairie biomass prior to anaerobic digestion.
data.dataset_batch_AD_hca_extraction_wash_methane_yield	methane yield ml per g vs fed per day	float	milliliter	The mean methane yield of three replicates reported in mL of methane produced per gram of volatile solids fed to the digester, per day.
data.dataset_batch_AD_hca_extraction_wash_methane_yield	standard deviation	float	milliliter	The standard deviation around the mean methane_yield_ml_per_g_vs_fed_per_day of three replicates, reported in mL of methane produced per gram of volatile solid fed to the digester per day.
data.dataset_hca_yield_optimization	dataset HCA yield optimization pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key for this table.
data.dataset_hca_yield_optimization	hca yield g per kg	float	NA	The combined yield of p-coumaric and ferulic acids reported in grams per kilogram.
data.dataset_hca_yield_optimization	run number	integer	number	The designation for the extraction vessel used.
data.dataset_hca_yield_optimization	temperature actual celsius	float	celsius	The temperature of the HCA extraction from the pre-treatment filtrate, reported in degrees Celcius.
data.dataset_hca_yield_optimization	temperature coded	float	NA	The temperature of the HCA extraction from the pre-treatment filtrate, centered and scaled.
data.dataset_hca_yield_optimization	time actual min	float	minute	The duration of the HCA extraction from the pre-treatment filtrate, reported in minutes.
data.dataset_hca_yield_optimization	time coded	float	NA	The duration of the HCA extraction from the pre-treatment filtrate, centered and scaled.
data.dataset_manure_biomass_inoculum_composition	dataset manure biomass inoculum composition pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key for this table.
data.dataset_manure_biomass_inoculum_composition	inoculum	float	NA	The seed for AD experiments was obtained from the Water Pollution Control Plant in Ames, Iowa. The facility uses anaerobic digesters treating biosolids in a two-stage system. The slurry from the second-stage digester was stored in a sealed, 5-gallon bucket at 4°C.
data.dataset_manure_biomass_inoculum_composition	manure	float	NA	The cow manure was obtained from a local beef farm in Kingsley, Iowa. The manure was chilled upon collection, delivered to the laboratory, aliquoted into air-tight 250-mL HDPE bottles and stored at -20°C.
data.dataset_manure_biomass_inoculum_composition	parameters	string	NA	The parameter whose value is listed in the inoculum, manure or prairie column. See code details in the following code definition table.
data.dataset_manure_biomass_inoculum_composition	prairie biomass	float	NA	The prairie biomass used in this study was obtained from prairie strips seeded with a mixture of ~59 species that were harvested, dried, and milled to one-quarter-inch particle size. Detailed information on the cultivation and speciation of the prairie biomass was reported previously (Kordbacheh et al. 2018).
data.dataset_manure_biomass_inoculum_composition	unit	string	NA	The unit of the parameter.
data.manure_biomass_composition_raw	carbon percent	float	percent	Percent carbon by weight.
data.manure_biomass_composition_raw	hydrogen percent	float	percent	Percent hydrogen by weight.
data.manure_biomass_composition_raw	manure biomass composition raw pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key for this table.
data.manure_biomass_composition_raw	material	string	NA	The tested substrate.
data.manure_biomass_composition_raw	nitrogen percent	float	percent	Percent nitrogen by weight.
data.manure_biomass_composition_raw	replicate	string	NA	The sample replicate.
data.manure_biomass_composition_raw	sulfur percent	float	percent	Percent sulfur by weight.
data.manure_biomass_composition_raw	total solids g per kg	float	NA	The dry weight of the input material in dry grams per wet kilogram.
data.manure_biomass_composition_raw	volatile solids g per g	float	gramPerGram	Volatile solids in the initial material reported as grams volatile solid per gram initial material.