A review of sludge pretreatment methods and co-digestion to boost biogas production and energy self-sufficiency in wastewater treatment plants

Regardless of the water sanitation infrastructure and the degree of water pollution abatement that it could promote, the debate has intensified about the adaptation of sewage treatment objectives to concepts of circular economy and sustainability. This discussion includes understanding how to promote more efficient use of energy and inputs and the utilization of intermediate and final resources that can be generated in the liquid, solid, and gaseous phases throughout the wastewater treatment. Growing concerns over energy security, environmental impacts, and rising energy costs of wastewater treatment plants have made the anaerobic digestion process a viable technology to produce renewable energy. Therefore, biogas generated in anaerobic sewage treatment units and anaerobic sludge digestion has great potential. This work aims to review recent advances in technology to induce biogas generation in anaerobic digesters, including pretreatment methods (thermal, physical-chemical, and biological) and co-digestion with other organic residues. Mechanisms, advantages, drawbacks, technical and economic aspects are discussed. Among the strategies evaluated, biological pretreatment and co-digestion are more promising in terms of efficiency and costs. Nevertheless, these technologies should be carefully assessed from different perspectives to consolidate their full-scale application.

Automated summary

The debate on adapting sewage treatment objectives to circular economy and sustainability concepts has intensified, with a focus on promoting more efficient energy and resource use in wastewater treatment. Anaerobic digestion has become a viable technology for producing renewable energy, particularly through the generation of biogas in sewage treatment units and anaerobic sludge digestion. Recent advances in technology for inducing biogas generation in anaerobic digesters, including pretreatment methods and co-digestion, are discussed in terms of mechanisms, advantages, drawbacks, and technical and economic aspects. Biological pretreatment and co-digestion are identified as more promising strategies in terms of efficiency and costs.