A seven-year study addressed both the limitations on the rate and efficiency of biomass conversion, and the enrichment of biogas methane content. Energy crops examined included sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ), napiergrass ( Pennisetum purpureum ), corn ( Zea mays ), and a sorghum/α-cellulose mix. High solids digestion work (25–30% effluent total solids (TS)) showed the need to address ammonia toxicity and trace nutrient limitations. Trace nutrient supplementation and control of the feedstock C/N ratio enabled stable operation of digesters at volatile solids (VS) loading rates up to 24 grams per kilogram reactor wet mass per day (gVS kg −1 day −1 ), with mean methane production rates of 7.5 L kg −1 day −1 . Acid-extractable metal concentrations were used as an indicator of bioavailable metals. Initial work with low solids digestion (8–10% TS) resulted in efficient VS conversion but low methane production rates. Subsequent work using trace nutrient supplementation enabled stable operation of intermittently-fed (three times per week) digesters at loading rates up to 12 gVS kg −1 day −1 , resulting in methane production rates up to 3.3 L kg −1 day −1 . Continuous feeding of corn at rates up to 18 gVS kg −1 day t-1 resulted in a mean methane production rate of 5.4 L kg−1 day-' with a 67% VS conversion efficiency. The maximum methane production rates for both the high solids and low solids systems are among the highest observed for biomass conversion. An in situ technique to enrich digester offgas was developed to take advantage of the differing solubilities of C0 2 and CH 4 , in which dissolved C0 2 was removed from the reactor in a recycled leachate stream and gas-stripped in an external stripper. Such a system easily enriched the remaining digester offgas to over 90% methane, and contents in excess of 98% were achieved. Quantitative evaluation of system variables defined the effects of leachate recycle rates, leachate alkalinity, and pH on the resulting offgas methane contents.

Methane fermentation of energy crops: maximum conversion kinetics and in situ biogas purification.

Analysis of different techniques used for improvement of biomethanation process: A review

Advances in the use of CFD to characterize, design and optimize bioenergy systems

Effect of HRT on hydrogen production and organic matter solubilization in acidogenic anaerobic digestion of OFMSW

The effect of moisture regimes on the anaerobic degradation of municipal solid waste from Metepec (México).

Anaerobic digestion of cattle manure.

Earlier studies have shown that although large quantities of agricultural residues are generated on small farms, it was difficult to economically justify use of conventional anaerobic digestion technology, such as used for sewage sludge digestion. A simple, unmixed, earthen-supported structure appeared to be capable of producing significant quantities of biogas at a cost that would make it competitive with many existing fuels. The goal of this study was to define and demonstrate a methane fermentation technology that could be practical and economically feasible on small farms. This study provides the first long term, large scale (reactor volumes of 34 m/sup 3/) parallel testing of the major theory, design, construction, and operation of a low cost approach to animal manure fermentation as compared to the more costly and complex designs. The main objectives were to define the lower limits for successful fermentor operation in terms of mixing, insulation, temperature, feed rate, and management requirements in a cold climate with both pilot scale and full scale fermentors. Over a period of four years, innovative fermentation processes for animal manures were developed from theoretical concept to successful full scale demonstration. Reactors were sized for 50 to 65 dairy animals, or for the one-familymore » dairy size. The results show that a small farm biogas generation system that should be widely applicable and economically feasible was operated successfully for nearly two years. Although this low cost system out-performed the completely mixed unit throughout the study, perhaps the greatest advantage of this approach is its ease of modification, operation, and maintenance.« less

Anaerobic fermentation of agricultural residue: potential for improvement and implementation. Final report, Volume II

Dry fermentation of agricultural residues

A simple 'dry fermentation' process has been developed that may enable economical conversion of drier crop residues to biogas. Results from two years of process definition and scale-up to a 110 m/sup 3/ prototype show that biogas production rates exceeding those necessary to make the dry fermentor competitive have been achieved. 13 refs.

Crop residue conversion to biogas by dry fermentation.

The conversion of relatively dry organics directly to biogas increases the potential of using large amounts of organics such as mixtures of crop residues and animal manures on the farm, crop residues, and urban solid wastes. Besides the use of the dry fermentation process on farms and in centralized facilities, the possibility of using this concept as a residential energy generating system exists. Existing crop residues can be used to generate biogas without major water needs problems. Requirements for an efficient reaction include initial solid content less than 30%, an active methanogenic slurry addition of 40% dry weight (depending on the substrate), and a reaction period of 60-300 days, depending on the reactor temperatures. Further analyses are required to clarify the controlling parameters and the economic feasibility.

Dry anaerobic methane fermentation

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