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Author Spotlight: Scaling Microalgal Biotechnology for Enhanced Biomethane Production
Published on: March 22, 2024
Nutrient augmentation enhances biogas production from sorghum mono-digestion
Yong Hu1, Haiyuan Ma1, Chen Shi2
1Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
Abstract:
This study investigated the effects of the addition of micro- (Fe, Co, Ni, and Mo) and macro-(Sulfur) nutrients on mono-digestion of sorghum under mesophilic conditions. A continuous stirred-tank reactor was operated for more than 420 days under seven different experimental conditions. The experimental results showed poor performance for methane production and process stability without nutrient supplementation. Serious deficiencies in Co and S were confirmed by nutrient analysis of dry sorghum and digestate. Nutrient augmentation efficiently enhanced methane production and volatile fatty acid (VFA) removal. Methane production reached 223 mL-CH4/g-VS, almost matching the yield predicted by biochemical methane potential (BMP) test. S was demonstrated to have a critical effect on metal availability in the digester. Consequently, to maintain stable methane fermentation, suitable supplementations of S and Co are recommended for anaerobic sorghum mono-digestion.
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