A study analyzed biogas production and usage at municipal wastewater treatment plants in North America. It found that hydrogen sulfide and silicon compounds in biogas showed significant variability. Only 35% of facilities with anaerobic digestion systems had energy recovery systems, despite 66% having anaerobic digestion. More data is needed to better understand trends in biogas production and composition.

1. Composition and uses of anaerobic digestion derived biogas
from wastewater treatment facilities in North America
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the current knowledge of biogas production and its use at
municipal wastewater treatment
plants (WWTPs) across North America. Information was provided by municipal WWTPs across
Canada and the US. It was determined
that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and silicon (Si) compounds had sufficient variability to be of concern.
The only biogas production trend that could be
identified was a possible seasonal relationship with sludge input and biogas production. Secondary
analysis was performed
to observe trends in biogas usage in urban areas larger than 150,000 in the US and 50,000 in
Canada; 66% of facilities had
anaerobic digestion systems and, of those, only 35% had an energy recovery system. Climatic,
population, and socio-political
influences on the trends were considered. The primary conclusion was that more data is required to
perform significant analyses
on biogas production and composition variation.
Article Notes
Declaration of conflicting interests The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
Funding This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial,
or not-for-profit sectors.