Maize mono-digestion efficiency: results from laboratory tests

2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 2029-2037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Ficara ◽  
Francesca Malpei

A laboratory experimental campaign was carried out in order to assess the optimal configuration for the anaerobic digestion of a mixture of sweet corn and ensiled maize. Batch hydrolysis tests were conducted at 35 and 55 °C and at four different particle sizes (2, 5, 20 and 50 mm) obtained by manual chopping and sieving. Chemical pre-treatment by 24 h incubation at various acid and alkaline pH was also considered for its potential to increase the maize methane yield. Results suggest that the hydrolytic phase proceeds significantly faster under thermophilic conditions. Significant differences in the solubilization rate were also observed when comparing coarse (20–50 mm) with fine (2–5 mm) particles, while 2 and 5 mm particles were solubilized at similar rates. No advantages from the chemical pre-treatment, in terms of solubilization efficiency and biomethanization potential were observed. According to these preliminary results, a two-stage semi-continuous laboratory plant consisting of a thermophilic hydrolytic reactor followed by a mesophilic methanogenic reactor was operated for 110 days. Steady state loading parameters were: influent concentration (maize mixture diluted in tap water) of 46 g VS/L, hydraulic retention time of 31 d, organic loading rate of 1.5 g VS/L/d. Alkalinity was dosed to the methanogenic reactor to avoid pH drops. Collected data allowed the average biodegradation efficiency to be estimated at around 60–65%.

Author(s):  
K De la Cruz-Martorell ◽  
Y Gómez-Salcedo ◽  
Y Santander ◽  
D J Catagua Mera ◽  
JCD Mendoza ◽  
...  

The present paper deals with the mono-digestion of coffee husk during the operation of batch reactors and semi-continuous stirred tank reactor (S-CSTR) using both pre-treated residual at 3% Ca(OH)2 and without pre-treatment. The semi-continuous operation was carried out in 4 stages at different organic loading rate (OLR, [gVS L-1 d-1]) and hydraulic retention time (HRT, [d]) (OLR:HRT) ratios (0.1:90, 0.2:90, 0.2:45 and 0.2:30). As a result of the pre-treatment, up to 223% of the organic matter solubilisation was obtained. However, pre-treatment did not provide better results in biodegradability, observing a negative trend in methane yield when operating in S-CSTR, due to the accumulation of compounds from the fractionation of the lignin as is the case of polyphenols. The operation was further developed using the residual without pre-treatment. The highest methane yield was obtained at 45:0.2 when using the residual without pre-treatment being with 277 mLCH4 gVS -1, for a methane productivity of 1.1 L L-1 d-1. When implementing the 30:0.2 ratio, a biomass washout was observed in the system, so it is recommended to operate at low OLR and high HRT when treating solid coffee wastes.


2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Dlabaja ◽  
J. Malaťák

Anaerobic fermentation is a suitable method of energetic and material utilisation of waste coming from restaurants and canteens. Laboratory experiments of wet anaerobic fermentation were performed in a continuous reactor and in batch reactors under mesophilic conditions. Effects of hydraulic retention time, organic loading rate, period of feeding and recirculation of digestate were examined in the continuous reactor. Effects of substrate pre-treatment (crushing, heating, freezing) were examined in the batch reactors. Degree of substrate degradation ranged between 83–85% within hydraulic retention time of 2–30 days. Appropriate organic loading rate was found in the range 2–3 kg of volatile solids per m3/day. Recirculation of digestate (both an inoculum for fresh substrate and replacement of fresh water supply) caused an increase in ammonia concentration and led to immediate inhibition of the process. The results further showed a positive effect of substrate pre-treatment in the initial phase of fermentation. However, degree of degradation did not show a significant increase for the period of 20 days of fermentation.    


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agus Haryanto ◽  
Sugeng Triyono ◽  
Nugroho Hargo Wicaksono

The efficiency of biogas production in semi-continuous anaerobic digester is influenced by several factors, among other is loading rate. This research aimed at determining the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the biogas yield. Experiment was conducted using lab scale self-designed anaerobic digester of 36-L capacity with substrate of a mixture of fresh cow dung and water at a ratio of 1:1. Experiment was run with substrate initial amount of 25 L and five treatment variations of HRT, namely 1.31 gVS/L/d (P1), 2.47 gVS/L/d (P2), 3.82 gVS/L/d (P3), 5.35 gVS/L/d (P4) and 6.67 gVS/L/d (P5). Digester performance including pH, temperature, and biogas yield was measured every day. After stable condition was achieved, biogas composition was analyzed using a gas chromatograph. A 10-day moving average analysis of biogas production was performed to compare biogas yield of each treatment. Results showed that digesters run quite well with average pH of 6.8-7.0 and average daily temperature 28.7-29.1. The best biogas productivity (77.32 L/kg VSremoval) was found in P1 treatment (organic loading rate of 1.31 g/L/d) with biogas yield of 7.23 L/d. With methane content of 57.23% treatment P1 also produce the highest methane yield. Biogas production showed a stable rate after the day of 44. Modified Gompertz kinetic equation is suitable to model daily biogas yield as a function of digestion time.Article History: Received March 24th 2018; Received in revised form June 2nd 2018; Accepted June 16th 2018; Available onlineHow to Cite This Article: Haryanto, A., Triyono, S., and Wicaksono, N.H. (2018) Effect of Loading Rate on Biogas Production from Cow Dung in A Semi Continuous Anaerobic Digester. Int. Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 7(2), 93-100.https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.7.2.93-100


2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 320-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Gustavsson ◽  
B. H. Svensson ◽  
A. Karlsson

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of trace element supplementation on operation of wheat stillage-fed biogas tank reactors. The stillage used was a residue from bio-ethanol production, containing high levels of sulfate. In biogas production, high sulfate content has been associated with poor process stability in terms of low methane production and accumulation of process intermediates. However, the results of the present study show that this problem can be overcome by trace element supplementations. Four lab-scale wheat stillage-fed biogas tank reactors were operated for 345 days at a hydraulic retention time of 20 days (37 °C). It was concluded that daily supplementation with Co (0.5 mg L−1), Ni (0.2 mg L−1) and Fe (0.5 g L−1) were required for maintaining process stability at the organic loading rate of 4.0 g volatile solids L−1 day−1.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejene Tsegaye Bedane ◽  
Mohammed Mazharuddin Khan ◽  
Seyoum Leta Asfaw

Abstract Background : Wastewater from agro-industries such as slaughterhouse is typical organic wastewater with high value of biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, biological organic nutrients (Nitrogen and phosphate) which are insoluble, slowly biodegradable solids, pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and viruses, parasite eggs. Moreover it contains high protein and putrefies fast leading to environmental pollution problem. This indicates that slaughterhouses are among the most environmental polluting agro-industries. Anaerobic digestion is a sequence of metabolic steps involving consortiums of several microbial populations to form a complex metabolic interaction network resulting in the conversation of organic matter into methane (CH 4 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and other trace compounds. Separation of the phase permits the optimization of the organic loading rate and HRT based on the requirements of the microbial consortiums of each phase. The purpose of this study was to optimize the working conditions for the hydrolytic - acidogenic stage in two step/phase anaerobic digestion of slaughterhouse wastewater. The setup of the laboratory scale reactor was established at Center for Environmental Science, College of Natural Science with a total volume of 40 liter (36 liter working volume and 4 liter gas space). The working parameters for hydrolytic - acidogenic stage were optimized for six hydraulic retention time 1-6 days and equivalent organic loading rate of 5366.43 – 894.41 mg COD/L day to evaluate the effect of the working parameters on the performance of hydrolytic – acidogenic reactor. Result : The finding revealed that hydraulic retention time of 3 day with organic loading rate of 1,788.81 mg COD/L day was a as an optimal working conditions for the parameters under study for the hydrolytic - acidogenic stage. The degree of hydrolysis and acidification were mainly influenced by lower hydraulic retention time (higher organic loading rate) and highest values recorded were 63.92 % at hydraulic retention time of 3 day and 53.26% at hydraulic retention time of 2 day respectively. Conclusion : The finding of the present study indicated that at steady state the concentration of soluble chemical oxygen demand and total volatile fatty acids increase as hydraulic retention time decreased or organic loading rate increased from 1 day hydraulic retention time to 3 day hydraulic retention time and decreases as hydraulic retention time increase from 4 to 6 day. The lowest concentration of NH 4 + -N and highest degree of acidification was also achieved at hydraulic retention time of 3 day. Therefore, it can be concluded that hydraulic retention time of 3 day/organic loading rate of 1,788.81 mg COD/L .day was selected as an optimal working condition for the high performance and stability during the two stage anaerobic digestion of slaughterhouse wastewater for the hydrolytic-acidogenic stage under mesophilic temperature range selected (37.5℃). Keywords : Slaughterhouse Wastewater, Hydrolytic – Acidogenic, Two Phase Anaerobic Digestion, Optimal Condition, Agro-processing wastewater


2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 1629-1635 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Esparza Soto ◽  
C. Solís Morelos ◽  
J. J. Hernández Torres

The aim of this work was to evaluate the performance of a pilot-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor during the treatment of cereal-processing industry wastewater under low-temperature conditions (17 °C) for more than 300 days. The applied organic loading rate (OLRappl) was gradually increased from 4 to 6 and 8 kg CODsol/m3d by increasing the influent soluble chemical oxygen demand (CODsol), while keeping the hydraulic retention time constant (5.2 h). The removal efficiency was high (82 to 92%) and slightly decreased after increasing the influent CODsol and the OLRappl. The highest removed organic loading rate (OLRrem) was reached when the UASB reactor was operated at 8 kg CODsol/m3d and it was two times higher than that obtained for an OLRappl of 4 kg CODsol/m3d. Some disturbances were observed during the experimentation. The formation of biogas pockets in the sludge bed significantly complicated the biogas production quantification, but did not affect the reactor performance. The volatile fatty acids in the effluent were low, but increased as the OLRappl increased, which caused an increment of the effluent CODsol. Anaerobic treatment at low temperature was a good option for the biological pre-treatment of cereal processing industry wastewater.


2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 317-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahyar Ghorbanian ◽  
Robert M. Lupitskyy ◽  
Jagannadh V. Satyavolu ◽  
R. Eric Berson

2010 ◽  
Vol 113-116 ◽  
pp. 1132-1137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Feng Li ◽  
Yong Ming Hui ◽  
Xin Yao ◽  
Lu Wang ◽  
Qian Wen Song ◽  
...  

In this experiment, brown sugar was chosen as the substrate of continuous operation. A lab-scale expanded granular sludge blanket (EGSB) reactor was employed. Stable ethanol-type fermentation was formed by controlling the organic loading rate (OLR). The results showed a maximum hydrogen production rate of 5.73L / L reactor•d was achieved, under the condition that the hydraulic retention time (HRT) = 2h, OLR = 97.2kg COD/m3 reactor•d. The average hydrogen content in the biogas during the 73-day operation was 41.27%.


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