Biological Systems: Theory and Innovation

Biotechnological aspects of digestate production during methane fermentation and utilisation

Kateryna Shchurska, Oleksandra Nedilko*

nedilko.olexandra@lll.kpi.ua

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Abstract

The relevance of the study is conditioned by the rapid development of the bioenergy industry, namely, the biogas sector in Ukraine, which leads to the generation of significant volumes of one of the by-products of anaerobic digestion – digestate, which is valuable in many aspects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the main stages of methane fermentation and factors affecting the composition and quality of digestate, and to review conventional and innovative methods of its utilisation. Analysis of the available literature has shown that current methods of storing the produced digestate are ineffective and act as a temporary way of its accumulation, given the growing scale of its generation every year and in the future. Each of the four stages of anaerobic digestion (hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, methanogenesis) was considered in detail in the paper and specific groups of microorganisms involved in these processes were characterised. The relationship between the composition of the raw material and the final physical and chemical characteristics of digestate was determined. The influence of the initial feedstock on the composition and key characteristics of the resulting digestate were presented. The paper analysed the results of contemporary research in the field of digestate processing and utilisation using biotechnological methods to ensure the main goals of sustainable development and compliance with the principles of the circular economy. Special attention was paid to the key characteristics of the resulting digestate, which have a predominant influence on the choice of further methods and technologies for its utilisation. Based on the analysis, the information was systematised and presented in the form of generalising tables. The results of this review paper are of practical value and can be used for the selection and implementation of digestate processing technologies in existing enterprises

Keywords

fermented residue; anaerobic digestion; processing; biogas; circular economy; sustainable development

Suggested citation
Shchurska, K., & Nedilko, O. (2026). Biotechnological aspects of digestate production during methane fermentation and utilisation. Biological Systems: Theory and Innovation, 17(3), 69-83. https://doi.org/10.31548/biologiya/3.2026.69
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