Technical and economic feasibility of a solar-bio-powered waste utilization and treatment system in Central America.

The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate a pilot-scale and closed-loop system that synergistically combines solar thermal collector, anaerobic digester, and constructed treatment wetland to simultaneously treat and utilize organic wastes. The system utilizes 863 kg of mixed animal and food wastes to generate 263 MJ renewable energy, produced 28 kg nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer, and reclaimed 550 kg water per day. The net revenue considering electricity and fertilizer was $2436 annually. The payback period for the system is estimated to be 17.8 years for a relatively dilute waste stream (i.e., 2% total solids). The implemented system has successfully demonstrated a self-efficient and flexible waste utilization and treatment system. It creates a win-win solution to satisfy the energy needs of the community and address environmental concerns of organic wastes disposal in the region.

[1]  Manuel Soto,et al.  Performance of an anaerobic digester-constructed wetland system for a small community , 2008 .

[2]  Patrick Denny,et al.  Implementation of constructed wetlands in developing countries , 1997 .

[3]  Joseph B Farrell,et al.  Laboratory Evaluation of Thermophilic‐Anaerobic Digestion to Produce Class A Biosolids. 1. Stabilization Performance of a Continuous‐Flow Reactor at Low Residence Time , 2005, Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation.

[4]  Elena Comino,et al.  Constructed wetland treatment of agricultural effluent from an anaerobic digester , 2013 .

[5]  Mark D Sobsey,et al.  Laboratory Evaluation of Thermophilic‐Anaerobic Digestion to Produce Class A Biosolids. 2. Inactivation of Pathogens and Indicator Organisms in a Continuous‐Flow Reactor Followed by Batch Treatment , 2005, Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation.

[6]  E. Voudrias,et al.  Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of pasteurised food wastes and dairy cattle manure in batch and large volume laboratory digesters: Focussing on mixing ratios , 2015 .

[7]  P. Suryawanshi,et al.  Thermophilic anaerobic digestion: the best option for waste treatment , 2010, Critical reviews in biotechnology.

[8]  Reyad El-Khazali,et al.  Heating of a biogas reactor using a solar energy system with temperature control unit , 2000 .

[9]  Aldo Giorgini,et al.  Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution: Model Selection and Application , 1986 .

[10]  S. C. Kaushik,et al.  State-of-the-art of solar thermal power plants—A review , 2013 .

[11]  Teodoro Espinosa-Solares,et al.  Thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion of poultry litter and thin stillage. , 2013, Bioresource technology.

[12]  Jaime Wright.  Cálculo y mapeo de la radiación solar directa y difusa en Costa Rica , 2008 .

[13]  Paul Eger,et al.  Technical and Regulatory Guidance Document for Constructed Treatment Wetlands , 2003 .

[14]  Elena Ficara,et al.  New opportunities for agricultural digestate valorization: current situation and perspectives , 2015 .

[15]  Wei Liao,et al.  Using anaerobic digestion of organic wastes to biochemically store solar thermal energy , 2015 .

[16]  J. Bombardiere,et al.  Fertilizer potential of liquid and solid effluent from thermophilic anaerobic digestion of poultry waste. , 2006, Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research.

[17]  Alain Grasmick,et al.  Water and nutrients recovering from livestock manure by membrane processes , 2015 .

[18]  Wei Liao,et al.  Development of polyelectrolyte multilayer membranes to reduce the COD level of electrocoagulation treated high-strength wastewater , 2015 .