Circular bioeconomy approach for pig farming systems using microalgae-based wastewater treatment processes

Vinitha Mariyappan; Chu-Leung Yu; Wei Wu; Jo-Shu Chang

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130134

Circular bioeconomy approach for pig farming systems using microalgae-based wastewater treatment processes

Bioresour Technol. 2024 Feb:393:130134. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130134. Epub 2023 Nov 29.

Authors

Vinitha Mariyappan¹, Chu-Leung Yu¹, Wei Wu², Jo-Shu Chang³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan, ROC.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: weiwu@gs.ncku.edu.tw.
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan, ROC; Research Center for Circular Economy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung 407224, Taiwan, ROC.

PMID: 38040308
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130134

Abstract

The circular bioeconomy (CBE) presents a sustainable solution for the pig farming system, delivering economic and environmental benefits. This shift from a linear to a CBE model is anticipated to result in substantial economic, environmental, and social transformations. In this study, the CBE outcomes are evaluated with Scenarios (1 to 3): (1) pig farming and anaerobic digestion (AD) only, (2) pig farming, AD, and microalgae system (MS) with partial microalgae-based biomass (MB) recycle, and (3) pig farming, AD, and MS without MB recycle. Through economic and life cycle analyses, the internal rate of return for Scenarios (1 to 3) are 13.3%, 15.0%, and 12.3%, respectively, but the corresponding endpoint indicators are 483pt, 363pt, and 398pt. To address the best CBE, Scenario 2 by using MB product as a pig feed supplement could achieve higher revenue as well as lower environmental impact.

Keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Circular bioeconomy; Economic analysis; Manure management; Pig farming.

MeSH terms

Agriculture
Animals
Biofuels
Biomass
Farms
Microalgae*
Swine
Water Purification*

Substances

Biofuels