of Iron
in ADs
Proposal to test if Ferric/Ferrous chloride is considered a benecial
additive as a strategy for an odor mitigation, not to mention more
efcient digestion under anaerobic conditions.
Table of Contents
Contents
Abstract ______________________________________________________ 1
Literature _____________________________________________________ 2
Lab testing proposal ____________________________________________ 6
Economics and Usage ___________________________________________ 8
FeCl2/FeCl3 usage
Pg. 01
NYSERDA Report
states that: For
every 1 mg/l
Sulphur 5 mg/l
iron addition
results in atleast
50% reduction of
H2S.
Abstract
A demand was made recently, to evaluate the usage of FeCl2 (Ferrous chloride)
/FeCl3 (Ferric chloride) in Anaerobic digesters.
The dialogue was started after Alan Johnson, visited Lucas county Anaerobic
digester plant and the dewatering operations had little to no odor emanating
out. After conversation with Lucas county plant official it was informed that
FeCl3/FeCl2 is added to digester.
This document outlines the science, reasoning, and logic behind the usage of
Iron and It will be upto the management to decide whether it is worth
experimenting with Iron chloride. To aid the management some economics of
the process are also explained in the last section.
FeCl2/FeCl3 usage
Pg. 02
Literature
Typically, biogas produced by anaerobic digesters is used to generate energy
for farm use and sale to the power grid. One of the main difficulties associated
with biogas utilization in different form is the presence of relatively high
hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentrations in the biogas stream. Hydrogen sulfide
present in biogas corrodes engine parts in the combustion chamber, exhaust
system, and in various bearings throughout an engine. The presence of water
vapor in the biogas stream along with hydrogen sulfide exasperates this
problem by producing pure hydrogen, which accelerates cracking and blistering
of steel parts. Furthermore, combustion of biogas with hydrogen sulfide
generates sulfur dioxide which, upon reaction with water droplets, forms
sulfuric acid. Like hydrogen sulfide, sulfuric acid is also highly corrosive to
biogas handling equipment. In general, the operational hydrogen sulfide
concentration limit for most biogas utilization systems is below 800 parts per
million on a volumetric basis (ppmv) in the gas stream.
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is also toxic gas/Odor which is dangerous for the
personal of WWTP. When concentration of H2S in biogas produced increases
above 500 ppm risk of respiratory and central nervous system paralysis occurs.
Hydrogen sulphide is also corrosive for the equipment, as quasar has
experienced in past with gas lines getting corroded. Hence H2S should be
FeCl2/FeCl3 usage
Pg. 03
FeCl2/FeCl3 usage
Pg. 04
FeCl2/FeCl3 usage
Pg. 05
Based on following table it can be seen that at 250 mg/l of Fe addition to the
digester approximately >50% of total Sulfide and sulfate reduction is observed.
From An initial conc of 50 PPM of sulfur.
This table could be used as reference for testing this pilot digesters in lab. This
experiment was conducted on dairy manure feedstock, hence actual
concentration required probably might be different on different kind of
feedstocks. However one thing which is noticeable in the plot, is during addition
of little Fe, Sulfide and sulfate reduce steeply before achieving a plateau which
means it became unavailable for further reaction with, and reduction of, H 2S.
Same experimental results could be used for designing lab scale testing.
Depending upon availability of FeCl2 or FeCl3 dosing will be different.
However from the previous tested results, it is clear that Field testing results
showed that for 1 mg/l h2S, 5 mg/L H2S has to be added for ~50% H2S
reduction.
FeCl2/FeCl3 usage
Pg. 06
FeCl2/FeCl3 usage
Pg. 07
Eg. For a lab scale digester of 25 gallon and 25 day retention time, with initial S
conc of 100 mg/l, FeCl2 required will be 0.009lbs/day and FeCl3 required will
be 0.012 Lbs/day. Digestate could be recirculated for dilution of powdered Fe
Powder.
Intial S conc.
100.00 mg/l
Digester Vol
Feed Rate
25.00 Gal
1.00 GPD
Feedstock
50.00 mg/l (Gas+Liq)
If this experiment is successful the actual setup could look very similar, with
FeCl2 required/day around 283.607 Lbs/day, and FeCl3 required 362 lbs/day.
Intial S conc.
100.00 mg/l
FeCl3
362.883 lbs/day
Digester Vol
Feed Rate
750,000.00 Gal
30,000.00 GPD
Feedstock
50.00 mg/l (Gas+Liq)
FeCl2/FeCl3 usage
Pg. 08
I) For a typical 30,000 GPD of feeding rate in a digester, using the following
plot based on the concentration of S, Dosing rate of Iron could be established.
FeCl2/FeCl3 usage
Pg. 09
Pg. 10
FeCl2/FeCl3 usage
III) Assuming it is decided FeCl2, is chosen as chemical for preference, Daily
cost of FeCl2 ($0.3/lb) usage could be evaluated from following table:
FeCl2/FeCl3 usage
Pg. 11
IV) Finally this plot shows estimated cost of Iron Chloride ($/Gallon) of
feedstock based on different Sulphur concentrations. Final H2S
concentration, is expected to be 50% of the initial concentration atleast.
Final comments
Direct addition of ferric chloride and ferrous chloride to anaerobic digesters is
an effective method for reducing the hydrogen sulfide concentration in the
biogas produced from the digesters. Further investigation into minimizing the
effects of iron sinks/binding in the digester bulk liquid matrix, such as enhanced
delivery and digester mixing, offer the potential to further improve performance.
Formation and precipitation of iron sulfides did not result in a measurable
increase in the total solids concentration in the digester, thus there is minimal
potential for digester plugging due to this process.