Comparative evaluation of sludge characteristics and methane potential from different municipal wastewater treatment processes

Busra Cicekalan; Sadiye Kosar; Fatma Busra Yaman Buyukbuberoglu; Gulin Ucas; Mustafa Evren Ersahin; Ismail Koyuncu; Izzet Ozturk; Hale Ozgun

doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.108932

Comparative evaluation of sludge characteristics and methane potential from different municipal wastewater treatment processes

Busra Cicekalan^*
, Sadiye Kosar
, Fatma Busra Yaman Buyukbuberoglu
, Gulin Ucas
, Mustafa Evren Ersahin
, Ismail Koyuncu
, Izzet Ozturk
, Hale Ozgun

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Environmental Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The energy potential of sludge from the anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A²O) process, HRAS + MBR process, and AGS process was comparatively evaluated in the study. The sludge from the A²O process (S1) consists of proteins, hemicellulose, and cellulose in 46 %, 30 % and 8 % in order. Organic compounds in sludge from the AGS process (S2) were mainly 41 % protein, 33 % hemicellulose, 9 % lignin, and 7 % lipids, while sludge from the HRAS + MBR process (S3) was mainly composed of a high amount of proteins (53 %), hemicellulose (14 %), and lipids (14 %). Results showed that the sludge from the HRAS + MBR process had the highest methane, which was 212 ± 18 mL CH₄/g VS. Methane yield of sludge from the AGS process (173 ± 11 mL CH₄/g VS) was slightly lower than that from the A²O process (180 ± 1 mL CH₄/g VS). Compared to the A²O process, the organic matter in wastewater transformed to methane gas was nearly 21.0 % and 23.3 % for the AGS process, and HRAS + MBR process, respectively.

Original language	English
Article number	108932
Journal	Biomass and Bioenergy
Volume	209
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.108932
Publication status	Published - Jun 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Keywords

Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) process
Anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (AO) process
Biochemical methane potential
High rate activated sludge (HRAS)
Membrane bioreactor (MBR)

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10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.108932

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title = "Comparative evaluation of sludge characteristics and methane potential from different municipal wastewater treatment processes",

abstract = "The energy potential of sludge from the anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A2O) process, HRAS + MBR process, and AGS process was comparatively evaluated in the study. The sludge from the A2O process (S1) consists of proteins, hemicellulose, and cellulose in 46 \%, 30 \% and 8 \% in order. Organic compounds in sludge from the AGS process (S2) were mainly 41 \% protein, 33 \% hemicellulose, 9 \% lignin, and 7 \% lipids, while sludge from the HRAS + MBR process (S3) was mainly composed of a high amount of proteins (53 \%), hemicellulose (14 \%), and lipids (14 \%). Results showed that the sludge from the HRAS + MBR process had the highest methane, which was 212 ± 18 mL CH4/g VS. Methane yield of sludge from the AGS process (173 ± 11 mL CH4/g VS) was slightly lower than that from the A2O process (180 ± 1 mL CH4/g VS). Compared to the A2O process, the organic matter in wastewater transformed to methane gas was nearly 21.0 \% and 23.3 \% for the AGS process, and HRAS + MBR process, respectively.",

keywords = "Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) process, Anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (AO) process, Biochemical methane potential, High rate activated sludge (HRAS), Membrane bioreactor (MBR)",

author = "Busra Cicekalan and Sadiye Kosar and \{Yaman Buyukbuberoglu\}, \{Fatma Busra\} and Gulin Ucas and Ersahin, \{Mustafa Evren\} and Ismail Koyuncu and Izzet Ozturk and Hale Ozgun",

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doi = "10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.108932",

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journal = "Biomass and Bioenergy",

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T1 - Comparative evaluation of sludge characteristics and methane potential from different municipal wastewater treatment processes

AU - Cicekalan, Busra

AU - Kosar, Sadiye

AU - Yaman Buyukbuberoglu, Fatma Busra

AU - Ucas, Gulin

AU - Ersahin, Mustafa Evren

AU - Koyuncu, Ismail

AU - Ozturk, Izzet

AU - Ozgun, Hale

PY - 2026/6

Y1 - 2026/6

N2 - The energy potential of sludge from the anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A2O) process, HRAS + MBR process, and AGS process was comparatively evaluated in the study. The sludge from the A2O process (S1) consists of proteins, hemicellulose, and cellulose in 46 %, 30 % and 8 % in order. Organic compounds in sludge from the AGS process (S2) were mainly 41 % protein, 33 % hemicellulose, 9 % lignin, and 7 % lipids, while sludge from the HRAS + MBR process (S3) was mainly composed of a high amount of proteins (53 %), hemicellulose (14 %), and lipids (14 %). Results showed that the sludge from the HRAS + MBR process had the highest methane, which was 212 ± 18 mL CH4/g VS. Methane yield of sludge from the AGS process (173 ± 11 mL CH4/g VS) was slightly lower than that from the A2O process (180 ± 1 mL CH4/g VS). Compared to the A2O process, the organic matter in wastewater transformed to methane gas was nearly 21.0 % and 23.3 % for the AGS process, and HRAS + MBR process, respectively.

AB - The energy potential of sludge from the anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A2O) process, HRAS + MBR process, and AGS process was comparatively evaluated in the study. The sludge from the A2O process (S1) consists of proteins, hemicellulose, and cellulose in 46 %, 30 % and 8 % in order. Organic compounds in sludge from the AGS process (S2) were mainly 41 % protein, 33 % hemicellulose, 9 % lignin, and 7 % lipids, while sludge from the HRAS + MBR process (S3) was mainly composed of a high amount of proteins (53 %), hemicellulose (14 %), and lipids (14 %). Results showed that the sludge from the HRAS + MBR process had the highest methane, which was 212 ± 18 mL CH4/g VS. Methane yield of sludge from the AGS process (173 ± 11 mL CH4/g VS) was slightly lower than that from the A2O process (180 ± 1 mL CH4/g VS). Compared to the A2O process, the organic matter in wastewater transformed to methane gas was nearly 21.0 % and 23.3 % for the AGS process, and HRAS + MBR process, respectively.

KW - Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) process

KW - Anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (AO) process

KW - Biochemical methane potential

KW - High rate activated sludge (HRAS)

KW - Membrane bioreactor (MBR)

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105026856297

U2 - 10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.108932

DO - 10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.108932

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105026856297

SN - 0961-9534

VL - 209

JO - Biomass and Bioenergy

JF - Biomass and Bioenergy

M1 - 108932

ER -

Comparative evaluation of sludge characteristics and methane potential from different municipal wastewater treatment processes

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

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