Methane Production Using Olive Tree Pruning Biomass Under H2O2 Pretreatment Enhanced with UV and Alkali

Olive tree pruning (OTP), a widely available agricultural residue in Mediterranean countries, represents a promising lignocellulosic feedstock for anaerobic digestion. However, its recalcitrant structure limits its biodegradability and methane yields, necessitating effective pretreatment approaches. In this context, hydrogen peroxide in combination with ultraviolet (UV) radiation (UV/H₂O₂) at ambient temperature was used as a pretreatment method for enhancing methane production from OTP. Three concentrations of H₂O₂ (0, 1, and 3% <i>w</i>/<i>w</i>) alone or in combination with UV radiation, at different retention times (8, 14, and 20 h), were evaluated to enhance OTP depolymerization and methane generation. In addition, the combination of UV/H₂O₂ with alkali (UV/H₂O₂/NaOH) was compared with the typical alkaline pretreatment (NaOH) in terms of lignocellulosic biomass fractionation and biochemical methane potential (BMP). Results showed that increasing H₂O₂ concentration during UV/H₂O₂ pretreatment enhanced hemicellulose solubilization. Both NaOH and UV/H₂O₂/NaOH pretreatment promoted lignin reduction (37.3% and 37.8%), resulting in enhanced BMP values of 330.5 and 337.9 L CH₄/kg TS, respectively. Considering operational energy requirements (heating at 80 °C and irradiance for 20 h) and methane energy recovery, net energy balances of 45.52 kJ and 66.65 kJ were obtained for NaOH and UV/H₂O₂/NaOH, respectively.