Room: Poster Area
Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 09:00 - 10:00 CEST
Session code 4CV.1
Biogas and biomethane production
Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Biomass Cultivated on Degraded Lands with Fruit Waste for Biogas and Organic Fertilizer Production: A Circular Economy Case Study
Short Introductive summary
The study investigates the anaerobic co-digestion of biomass cultivated on degraded lands with raspberry and sea buckthorn waste, aiming to restore soil fertility while producing renewable energy. Biomass was grown on lands affected by mining activities, and the resulting mixtures with fruit waste were processed in anaerobic digesters to generate biogas and nutrient-rich digestate. The digestate was applied to experimental plots within a living lab, and soil fertility indicators were analyzed before and after application. Results demonstrated improvements in soil nutrient content, confirming the digestate’s suitability as an organic fertilizer. This approach addresses the valorization of fruit-processing residues, reduction of methane emissions from waste decomposition, and restoration of degraded lands. Cultivating biomass on unproductive land alleviates pressure on agricultural soils, enhances biodiversity, and contributes to carbon capture. The study demonstrates a sustainable, circular economy model in which waste recovery, energy production, and soil restoration are integrated, offering practical insights for the management of degraded lands & valorization of organic residues.
Presenter
Ioana IONEL
Politehnica University of Timisoara, Mechanical Engineering Dpt., ROMANIA
Presenter's biography
I graduated as mechanical engineer and further dedicated my activity to clean combustion etchnologies, starting with the PhD research, accomplished on a field concerning Ultrasound influence on Lignite combustion. By 1990 I became as Humboldt fellow in contact with the several German and European universities/research groups/ and had the privilege to learn about flue gas cleaning technologies. I habilitated with a study/book concerning the pollution generated by Romanian power plants. In Romania I realized a special lab for air quality monitoring. Also I am coordinating the research Center of my department, and recently we started to develop renewable energy sources research, especially in the field og biomass co-combustion and biogas generation, CO2 capturing included. I have 8 Patents recognized in Romania. I have more than 100 ISI papers published. Since I was nominated as PhD coordinator, I succeeded to support 26 PhD students to finalize with success their study. I also coordinated several national and E projects, especially aiming bio-energy applications, environmental protection (air quality, reduction of green house gases, waste utilisation), and clean energy sources (including coal as transition fuel, but associated with CO2 capture).
Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited
Co-authors:
E.C. Dunca, University of Petrosani, ROMANIA
I Ionel, Politehnica University of Timisoara, ROMANIA
S.M. Radu, University of Petrosani, ROMANIA
L.A. Varga, University of Petrosani, ROMANIA
M.F. Ionita, University of Petrosani, ROMANIA
Session reference: 4CV.1.5