Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/rser Quantitative characterization of carbonaceous and lignocellulosic biomass for anaerobic digestion Anthony Njuguna Matheri a, ⁎ , Freeman Ntuli a , Jane Catherine Ngila b , Tumisang Seodigeng c , Caliphs Zvinowanda b , Cecilia Kinuthia Njenga d a Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa b Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa c Department of Chemical Engineering, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021-Vanderbijlpark-1911, Andries Potgieter Blvd, South Africa d UN Environment in South Africa, Regional Office for Southern Africa, 351 Francis Baard Street, P.O. Box 6541, Pretoria, South Africa ARTICLE INFO Keywords: Biomass Fourth industrial revolution Waste quantification Waste to energy Waste management ABSTRACT Biochemical quantitative characterization of biomass is becoming of key importance with the awareness and implementation of the fourth industrial revolution (FIR) and specifically in waste to energy recovery technol- ogies. In this study, we investigated the quantification, characterization and anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), sewage sludge, animal manure and agricultural waste as a substrate for potential alternative clean fuel production to meet the ever-rising energy demand. The basis of comparison included ultimate analysis and proximate analysis for better understanding of the characteristic of biomass for waste to energy application. Existing quantitative and characterization methods for physical and chemical properties were analyzed and reviewed using collected samples. The substrates analysis showed physio-chemical properties of significant energy value, like that of natural gas. Biochemical methane potential test (BMP) showed high feasibility for methane production with mono and co-digestion of animal waste, sewage sludge, OFMSW and agriculture waste. The results of the quantitative characterization and BMP test would contribute to af- fordable, sustainable, reliable, carbon-neutral form of modern energy and development of adequate waste to energy recovery management strategies. 1. Introduction The fourth industrial revolution, population growth, economic de- velopment, urbanization and improvement in living-standards has in- creased waste generation and introduced emerging contaminants into waste streams that may pose sanitary and environmental risks [1–3]. The emerging contaminants of concern include pesticides, flame re- tardants, pharmaceutical, various fluorinated compounds, plasticizers and nanomaterial [4]. These contaminants end up in landfills and water bodies, leading to pollution of the environment thus putting a strain on economic, social and health sectors [4,5]. The rapid increase in the quantities of waste generated demand a wider coverage of existing waste management system that provides sustainable standards for in- novative treatment alternatives and technologies. Achieving these standards requires the quantitative characterization of given waste streams and implementation of integrated waste management systems [6]. Reliable waste management data provides an all-inclusive resource for a comprehensive, critical and informative evaluation of waste management options in all waste management programs [7,8]. Carbonaceous materials, such as animal waste, sewage sludge, OFMSW, and agriculture waste can be used as a substitute for fossil fuel [5]. The carbonaceous substrates can be converted into energy by biological conversion [9,10] or by thermochemical processes, such as pyrolysis [5,11], gasification [1,5,12], combustion [13], incineration [14,15] and liquefaction [5]. Full-scale mechanical pre-treatment (MPT) could be used to remove inhibitive conditions for successive biomethane/biogas production in landfill thus reducing total waste impact [16,17]. In the past, biomass characterization and quantification through identification of biochemical families have become crucial in several topics of environmental treatment processes. Later, with a growing necessity to optimize and model treatment process performance, a more accurate and detailed quantification and characterization of biomass was required [18–20]. Knowledge of biomass composition is necessary for adequate urban life cycle assessment of integrated solid waste management [21,22]. Integrated municipal solid waste management https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.04.070 Received 20 June 2017; Received in revised form 12 April 2018; Accepted 14 April 2018 ⁎ Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: anthonym@uj.ac.za, tonynjuguna22@gmail.com (A.N. Matheri). Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 92 (2018) 9–16 1364-0321/ © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. T