Conventional and Innovative Hygienization of Feedstock for Biogas Production: Resistance of Indicator Bacteria to Thermal Pasteurization, Pulsed Electric Field Treatment, and Anaerobic Digestion

Animal by-products (ABP) can be valorized via anaerobic digestion (AD) for biogas energy generation. The digestate issued from AD process is usually used to fertilize farming land agricultural activities, which may cause potential sanitary risk the environment. European Union (EU) requires that certain ABP thermally pasteurized in order minimize this risk. This called hygienization, replaced by alternative nonthermal technologies like pulsed electric field (PEF). In present study, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 19433 and Escherichia coli 25922 were as indicator bacteria. Their resistance thermal pasteurization PEF treatment characterized. Results show Ent. E. are reduced 5 log10 less than 1 min during at 70 °C. critical strength was estimated 18 kV?cm?1 coli. “G+” bacteria generally more resistant “G?” also plays an important role pathogens inactivation, whose performance depends on microorganisms considered, temperature, residence time, type of feedstock. Thermophilic efficient removal mesophilic digestion.