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Continuously-stirred Anaerobic Digester to Convert Organic Wastes into Biogas: System Setup and Basic Operation
Published on: July 13, 2012
Biogas production with horse dung in solid-phase digestion systems
Sigrid Kusch1, Hans Oechsner, Thomas Jungbluth
1University of Hohenheim, Institute for Agricultural Engineering, State Institute for Machinery and Construction in Agriculture, Garbenstrasse 9, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany. kuschsig@uni-hohenheim.de
Bioresource Technology
|March 27, 2007
Summary
Horse dung can be used for biogas production through solid-phase digestion. Flooded processes yielded more biogas per volume than percolation, with methane yields around 170 L(N) CH(4) per kg VS.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Horse dung is a potential substrate for anaerobic digestion.
- Solid-phase digestion offers energy recovery possibilities.
- Optimizing process technology is key for efficient methanogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate horse dung as a substrate for solid-phase methanogenesis.
- To compare percolation and flooded digestion processes.
- To determine optimal conditions for energy recovery from horse dung.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory-scale batch reactors were used for experiments.
- Horse dung with straw bedding was utilized as substrate.
- Mesophilic temperatures were maintained throughout the process.
Main Results:
- Flooded digestion produced higher biogas yields per volume compared to percolation.
- A solid inoculum proportion of 10-20% was suitable for percolation.
- Methane yield was approximately 170 L(N) CH(4) per kg VS in six-week cycles.
- Chopping the substrate increased methane production, while pre-aeration decreased it.
Conclusions:
- Solid-phase anaerobic digestion of horse dung is feasible for biogas production.
- Flooded processes are more efficient in terms of biogas yield per volume.
- Substrate pre-treatment (chopping) can enhance methane production.
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