At IRDL, Marie-Noël Mansour explored the methanization of poultry waste to optimize biogas production.
Marie-Noël Mansour, chercheur·e au sein de IRDL (Institut National Polytechnique de Bretagne).
Thèse soutenue en 2023 à l'école doctorale École doctorale Sciences Pour l'Ingénieur (Lorient ; 2022-....).
Référencée dans le réseau ABES/STAR, cette thèse répond aux critères de rigueur de l'enseignement supérieur français.
Marie-Noël Mansour's thesis on the methanization of by-products from the poultry industry addresses a crucial issue for agriculture and renewable energy, a topic that deserves our full attention. Poultry waste, often overlooked in discussions about waste management, actually represents a significant opportunity to produce biogas, a source of green and renewable energy. Indeed, this waste is rich in organic matter, making it ideal for anaerobic digestion. But how can we maximize its potential? This is where Mansour's research comes into play, proposing innovative and practical solutions.
The study focuses on optimizing bioreactors, a fundamental aspect for improving the profitability and efficiency of methanization. By overcoming challenges related to inhibitors such as ammonia, which can compromise the performance of bioreactors, the research opens new perspectives. For example, ammonia, while an essential nutrient for plants, can become a real poison for the microorganisms involved in anaerobic digestion. Indeed, high concentrations of ammonia can inhibit the growth of these microorganisms, making their management complex and limiting biogas production.
Mansour's research demonstrates that adequate pretreatments, such as hydrolysis or thermolysis, as well as co-digestion with other organic materials, can significantly improve the efficiency of this process. On average, one ton of methanized waste produces 930 kg of digestate, a residue that can be used to enrich soils. This digestate, rich in nutrients, is particularly valuable in Africa, where waste management is a major challenge and where soils are often depleted by intensive agricultural practices.
The implications of this research go far beyond mere energy production. By reducing nitrogen losses, often caused by poor management of poultry manure, we can also decrease the environmental impacts associated with livestock farming. Indeed, nitrogen losses can reach 70% if manure is not properly managed, leading to soil and water pollution problems. This raises an important question: how can farms integrate these practices to improve their sustainability while meeting the growing needs of the population?
The strategic recommendations arising from this thesis include promoting anaerobic digestion in farms. This could reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers, often costly and harmful to the environment, while fostering a circular economy in the agricultural sector. In West Africa, where resources are limited and food security is a major concern, this approach could transform waste management into an economic opportunity. For example, local initiatives could emerge, where farmers collaborate to create methanization facilities, thereby generating additional income while improving the quality of their soils.
In summary, Mansour's research paves the way for reflection on the management of poultry waste and its valorization. Policymakers must take these findings into account to develop public policies that encourage innovation in the agricultural sector. This could include financial incentives for farms that adopt methanization practices, or awareness programs aimed at informing farmers about the benefits of these techniques. The methanization of poultry waste could well be a key to a more sustainable and resilient future, not only in terms of energy production but also in terms of environmental preservation and food security. By integrating these practices into agricultural policies, we could not only improve the sustainability of farms but also contribute to the fight against climate change, a challenge that concerns us all.
Données clés
- 930 kg : Production moyenne de digestat par tonne de déchets méthanisée, utile pour régénérer les sols.
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Sources et accès
Marie-Noël Mansour. Méthanisation des coproduits de l'industrie aviaire : rôle des prétraitements et de la co-digestion sur les performances des bioréacteurs. Génie des procédés. Université de Bretagne Sud; Université Saint-Joseph (Beyrouth), 2023. Français. ⟨NNT : 2023LORIS668⟩. ⟨tel-04554605⟩