Low-Temperature Pretreatment of Biomass for Enhancing Biogas Production: A Review

Low-temperature pretreatment (LTPT, Temp. < 100 degrees C or 140 degrees C) has the advantages of low input, simplicity, and energy saving, which makes engineering easy to use for improving biogas production. However, compared with high-temperature pretreatment (>150 degrees C) that can destroy recalcitrant polymerized matter in biomass, the action mechanism of heat treatment of biomass is unclear. Improving LTPT on biogas yield is often influenced by feedstock type, treatment temperature, exposure time, and fermentation conditions. Such as, even when belonging to the same algal biomass, the response to LTPT varies between species. Therefore, forming a unified method for LTPT to be applied in practice is difficult. This review focuses on the LTPT used in different biomass materials to improve anaerobic digestion performance, including food waste, sludge, animal manure, algae, straw, etc. It also discusses the challenge and cost issues faced during LTPT application according to the energy balance and proposes some proposals for economically promoting the implementation of LTPT.

Automated summary

Low-temperature pretreatment (LTPT) is an engineering method used to improve biogas production, which has the advantages of low cost, simplicity, and energy saving. However, the mechanism of heat treatment of biomass is not fully understood, and it is influenced by factors such as feedstock type and treatment temperature. This review discusses the application of LTPT in different biomass materials and proposes suggestions for promoting its implementation.