The role of coated nanoscale zero-valent iron with magnesium hydroxide in improving methane production during the anaerobic digestion of waste sludge

This study investigates the role of coated/Fe^0 in improving the anaerobic digestion process for the purpose of increasing methane gas production rate as one of the renewable sources of energy. Up until now, the anaerobic digestion of methane production by utilizing different environmental wastes is facing many challenges including the low conversion of biomass into energy. Therefore, in this work, we used the coated/Fe^0 with magnesium hydroxide as an additive during the anaerobic digestion of waste sludge. Two semi-continuous bioreactors were operated with and without adding the coated/Fe^0 over 70 days. The result showed that the addition of coated/Fe^0 enhanced methane production by 120% compared with the control reactor. The experimental and predicted methane values have proved the great potential of coated/Fe0 towards the practical applications of AD process.