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Measuring Biomethane Potential of Food Scrap Waste Anaerobically Co-Digested with Waste-Activated Sludge Using Respirometry
Published on: April 26, 2024
Methane production on thickened, pre-fermented manure.
Erik R Coats1, Ibrahim Ibrahim, Aurelio Briones
1Department of Civil Engineering, University of Idaho, P.O. Box 441022, Moscow, ID 83844-1022, USA. ecoats@uidaho.edu
Bioresource Technology
|January 14, 2012
Summary
A novel two-stage anaerobic digestion (AD) process effectively converts pre-fermented dairy manure into methane-rich biogas. This method enhances biogas methane content and maintains process stability, similar to using raw manure.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
- Agricultural Engineering
Background:
- Dairy cows in the US produce over 226 billion kg of manure annually.
- Manure management is a significant environmental challenge in the dairy industry.
- Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a promising technology for waste valorization and renewable energy production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel two-stage anaerobic digestion (AD) process for dairy manure.
- To assess the biogas yield and quality from pre-fermented dairy manure using this new method.
- To compare the performance and stability of the two-stage AD system with conventional AD using raw manure.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a two-stage anaerobic digestion (AD) system.
- Fed the system with thickened, pre-fermented dairy manure.
- Analyzed biogas quantity, methane content, stoichiometry, and microbial communities, focusing on Methanosarcinaceae (Msc).
Main Results:
- The two-stage AD of pre-fermented manure produced biogas yields comparable to raw manure AD.
- Biogas from the pre-fermented manure showed enhanced methane content.
- The two-stage system demonstrated comparable process stability and biogas stoichiometry to raw manure AD.
- The two-stage AD process resulted in a higher abundance of acetoclastic methanogens (Methanosarcinaceae).
Conclusions:
- Two-stage anaerobic digestion is a viable method for producing high-quality biogas from pre-fermented dairy manure.
- Enhanced enrichment of Methanosarcinaceae in the two-stage system contributes to stable and efficient biogas production.
- This process offers a sustainable solution for dairy manure management and renewable energy generation.
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