Evaluation of the Quality of Wood Pellets Available on the Market

The purpose of the research was to assess the quality of wood pellets available on the market. This assessment was made on the basis of the technical analysis and elemental composition: C, H, N, S. 14 different types of wood pellets available on the market were tested, each of them came from a different producer. In addition, an attempt was made to assess the content of organic matter in the tested pellets on the basis of methane fermentation. The innovation in the presented work is the use of biomethane production potential assessment for pellet fuel, which until now has been practised only in the case of substrates for biogas production. The parameters characterizing the tested pellets in energy terms did not differ significantly. The high calorific value and low ash and sulfur content indicated that the output biomass was of good quality. The differences in the production potential of biomethane of the tested pellets do not allow to state unequivocally that methane fermentation can be used to assess the quality of pellets and their contents of organic matter. However, the large BMP differences obtained for individual pellets suggest that some pellets may contain impurities inhibiting the methane fermentation process.

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The usefulness of sugar beets for biogas production in relations of the storage time and sugar content

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/20184400114 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 00114 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Natalia Mioduszewska ◽

Mariusz Adamski ◽

Anna Smurzyńska ◽

Jacek Przybył ◽

Krzysztof Pilarski

Keyword(s):

Sugar Beet ◽

Storage Time ◽

Fermentation Process ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Sugar Content ◽

Storage Period ◽

Methane Fermentation ◽

Sugar Beets ◽

Biogas Yield

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of sugar beet for biogas production, taking into account the duration time of storage and sugar content in the roots. The research has included analysis of methane and biogas yield of sugar beet. The relations between the sugar content in the roots and the length of storage period and the course of the methane fermentation process were determined. Sugar beets with sugar content of 17.6% and 19.6% were used for this experiment. In order to analyse the fermentation process, the fresh beets and the beets stored in flexible, hermetic tanks in the period of 43 and 89 days were used. Based on the analysis of the obtained results, it was found that the sugar content and the storage time of sugar beet roots can differentiate the production of biomethane and that it influences the methane fermentation process and the quality of the produced biogas.

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Influence of the Heating Method on the Efficiency of Biomethane Production from Expired Food Products

Fermentation ◽

10.3390/fermentation7010012 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 12

Author(s):

Joanna Kazimierowicz ◽

Marcin Zieliński ◽

Marcin Dębowski

Keyword(s):

Biogas Production ◽

Food Products ◽

Organic Load ◽

Organic Substrates ◽

Methane Fermentation ◽

Anaerobic Reactors ◽

Convection Heating ◽

Load Rate ◽

Biomethane Production ◽

Positive Effect

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of heating with microwave electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on the efficiency of the methane fermentation (MF) of expired food products (EFP). The research was inspired by the positive effect of EMR on the production of biogas and methane from different organic substrates. The experiment was carried out on a laboratory scale in fully mixed, semi-continuous anaerobic reactors. The technological conditions were as follows: temperature, 35 ± 1 °C; organic load rate (OLR), 2.0 kgVS·m−3∙d−1; and hydraulic retention time (HRT), 40 days. The source of the EMR was a magnetron (electric power, 300 W). There was no statistically significant influence of the use of EMR on the achieved technological effects of MF. The efficiency of biogas production was 710 ± 35 dm3·kgVS−1 in the variant with EMR and 679 ± 26 dm3·kgVS−1 in the variant with convection heating (CH). The methane contents were 63.5 ± 2.4% (EMR) and 62.4 ± 4.0% (CH), and the cumulative methane production after 40 days was 271.2 and 288.6 dm3CH4, respectively.

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Biogas production in the methane fermentation of excess sludge oxidized with Fenton’s reagent

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/201911600104 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 116 ◽

pp. 00104

Author(s):

Iwona Zawieja ◽

Kinga Brzeska

Keyword(s):

Fermentation Process ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Process Conditions ◽

Oh Radicals ◽

Fenton’S Reagent ◽

Iron Ions ◽

Fenton Reagent ◽

Excess Sludge ◽

Methane Fermentation ◽

Fenton's Reagent

The advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) play an important role in the degradation of hardly decomposable organic pollutants. AOPs methods rely on the production of highly reactive hydroxyl OH• radicals. The aim of the conducted research was to intensify biogas production in the methane fermentation process of excess sludge subjected to the process of deep oxidation with Fenton's reagent. In the process of oxidation of sewage sludge with the Fenton reagent, doses of iron ions in the range 0.02–0.14 g Fe2+/g TS (total solids) were used Hydrogen peroxide was measured in the proportions 1: 1–1:10 in relation to the mass of iron ions. The basic substrate of the study was excess sludge. In the case of excess sludge oxidation with the use of Fenton's reagent, the most favorable process conditions were considered to be the dose of iron ions 0.08 g Fe2+/g d.m. and a Fe2+: H2O2 ratio of 1:5. As a result of subjecting the excess sludge to disintegration with the Fenton reagent in the above-mentioned dose, with respect to the fermentation process of unprocessed sludge, about two-fold increase in the digestion degree of excess sludge and about 35% increase of the biogas yield was obtained.

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On the Spent Coffee Grounds Biogas Production

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis ◽

10.11118/actaun201664041279 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 1279-1282 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Tomáš Vítěz ◽

Tomáš Koutný ◽

Martin Šotnar ◽

Jan Chovanec

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Anaerobic Digestion ◽

Chemical Composition ◽

Fermentation Process ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Processing Waste ◽

Spent Coffee Grounds ◽

Input Material ◽

Coffee Grounds ◽

The World

Due to the strict legislation currently in use for landfilling, anaerobic digestion has a strong potential as an alternative treatment for biodegradable waste. Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world and spent coffee grounds (SCG) are generated in a considerable amount as a processing waste during making the coffee beverage. Chemical composition of SCG, presence of polysaccharides, proteins, and minerals makes from the SCG substrates with high biotechnological value, which might be used as valuable input material in fermentation process. The methane production ranged from 0.271–0.325 m3/kg dry organic matter.

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Analysis of the Possibility of Management of Curly-Leaf Pondweed for Energetic Purposes

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14175477 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (17) ◽

pp. 5477

Author(s):

Marcin Herkowiak ◽

Andrzej Osuch ◽

Ewa Osuch ◽

Bogusława Waliszewska ◽

Grzegorz Zając

Keyword(s):

Fermentation Process ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Calorific Value ◽

Combustion Method ◽

Calorimetric Study ◽

Water Reservoirs ◽

Biogas Yield ◽

Solid Biofuel ◽

Process Studies ◽

Curly Leaf

The possibilities of using curly-leaf pondweed for energy purposes were analyzed. This plant contributes to overgrowth of water reservoirs, causing their eutrophication. The plants examined were from two different water reservoirs: Lake Winiary (Gniezno) and Lake Rusalka (Poznan). On the basis of the investigations, it was determined that it is possible to use curly-leaf pondweed for energy purposes, both in the combustion method and in the biomethane fermentation process. Studies were performed to assess the suitability of the plants for combustion as a solid biofuel and studies on the use of pondweed as a fermenter feedstock. The calorimetric study showed the possibility of obtaining more energy for the curly-leaf pondweed coming from Lake Rusalka. The heat of combustion of these plants was 13.95 MJ·kg−1 (Winiary pondweed) and 9.10 MJ·kg−1 (Rusalka pondweed). On the other hand, the calorific value of these plants was 12.60 MJ·kg−1 (Winiary pondweed) and 7.80 MJ·kg−1 (Rusalka pondweed). In the case of biogas yield studies, significantly higher biogas production was observed for Lake Rusalka pondweed than for Lake Winiary pondweed. The total biogas yield for these plants was 8.05 m3·Mg−1 for Rusalka pondweed and 3.19 m3·Mg−1 for Winiary pondweed. Differences in the chemical composition of pondweed originating from different lakes were also found, which translated into differences in the amount of energy that could be obtained from plants from both stands.

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TEKNOLOGI PENYAMBUNGAN (GRAFTING) MENDUKUNG PENGEMBANGAN, PEREMAJAAN DAN REHABILITASI PERTANAMAN JAMBU METE / Grafting Technology for Support Extensification, Replanting, and Rehabilitation of Cashew Plantation

Perspektif ◽

10.21082/psp.v17n2.2018.85-100 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 85

Author(s):

Rudi Suryadi

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Plant Material ◽

Plant Productivity ◽

Land Conservation ◽

Marginal Land ◽

Production Potential ◽

Pests And Diseases

Initially cashew cultivation was aimed at marginal land conservation. A tight spacing (3 m x 3 m) so that the crown can cover the ground as quickly as possible to prevent soil erosion during rain and deciduous cashew leaves will add soil organic matter. Therefore aspects of plant productivity have not been a concern. As the price of cashew nuts tends to increase every year. This can encourage farmers to try cashew crops more seriously. At present, cashew cultivation is not only an effort to conserve marginal land, but also as a source of income for farmers, especially in Eastern Indonesia (KTI). Until 2016, Indonesia's cashew area had reached 514,491 ha with production of 137,094 tons. However, the level of productivity is considered still low, namely 430 kg logs/ha/year, far below India and Nigeria in the range of 900-2,286 kg logs/ha/year. Some factors that cause low productivity of Indonesian cashew are (1) the quality of plant material used, (2) disruption of pests and diseases, (3) maintenance of plants, and (4) the number of old plants (> 30 years). For this reason, efforts need to be made to increase the productivity of cashew, by implementing grafting technology in the extensification, replanting and rehabilitation of cashew. Research related to the grafting has been done quite a lot and produced, both grafting in nurseries and directly on the field (top working). The production potential of 9 superior varieties released ranged from 5.97 - 37.44 kg logs/trees/year or an average of 16.70 kg logs/trees/year. If the extensification, replanting and rehabilitation activities apply the grafting technology using the stem from superior varieties, it will be able to increase the productivity of Indonesian cashew to 1,670 kg logs/ha/year or increase by 300% from current productivity. AbstrakAwalnya penanaman jambu mete bertujuan untuk konservasi lahan marjinal. Jarak tanam rapat (3 m x 3 m) agar tajuk dapat secepat mungkin menutup permukaan tanah untuk mencegah erosi permukaan tanah saat hujan dan daun jambu mete yang gugur akan menambah bahan organik tanah. Oleh sebab itu aspek produktivitas tanaman belum menjadi perhatian. Seiring perkembangan harga kacang mete cenderung meningkat setiap tahunnya. Hal tersebut mampu mendorong petani untuk mengusahakan tanaman jambu mete lebih serius. Saat ini penanaman jambu mete tidak hanya sebagai usaha konservasi lahan marjinal, namun menjadi sumber pendapatan petani, terutama di Kawasan Timur Indonesia (KTI). Sampai 2016, luas areal mete Indonesia telah mencapai 514.491 ha dengan produksi 137.094 ton. Namun, tingkat produktivitas dianggap masih rendah yaitu 430 kg gelondong/ha/tahun, jauh dibawah India dan Nigeria pada kisaran 900-2.286 kg gelondong/ha/tahun. Beberapa faktor yang menyebabkan rendahnya produktivitas jambu mete Indonesia yaitu (1) mutu bahan tanaman yang digunakan, (2) gangguan hama dan penyakit, (3) pemeliharaan tanaman, dan (4) banyaknya tanaman tua (>30 tahun). Untuk itu perlu ditempuh upaya meningkatkan produktivitas jambu mete, dengan menerapkan teknologi penyambungan pada kegiatan pengembangan, peremajaan dan rehabilitasi pertanaman jambu mete. Penelitian terkait penyambungan sudah cukup banyak dilakukan dan dihasilkan, baik penyambungan di pembibitan maupun langsung di lapang (top working). Potensi produksi dari 9 varietas unggul yang dilepas berkisar antara 5,97- 37,44 kg gelondong/pohon/tahun atau rata-rata 16,70 kg gelondong/pohon/tahun. Apabila kegiatan pengembangan, peremajaan dan rehabilitasi menerapkan teknologi penyambungan menggunakan batang atas dari varietas unggul, akan mampu meningkatkan produktivitas jambu mete Indonesia menjadi 1.670 kg gelondong/ha/tahun atau meningkat 300 % dari produktivitas saat ini.

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The influence of mixing inside the fermentation reactors during the study of biogas efficiency of the substrates in mesophilic technology

BIO Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/bioconf/20181001012 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 01012

Author(s):

Kamil Kozlowski ◽

Marta Cieslik ◽

Jakub Mazurkiewicz ◽

Anna Smurzynska ◽

Michal Brzoski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fermentation Process ◽

Biogas Production ◽

High Energy ◽

Current Standard ◽

Methane Fermentation ◽

Environmental Friendly ◽

Maize Straw ◽

Biogas Plants ◽

Accredited Laboratory ◽

Gas Fuel

Along with the development of environmental friendly technologies, an increasing interest in generating the electricity and heat from renewable sources has been observed in Poland. Perfect example of such installations are agricultural biogas plants, where methane fermentation produces high-energy gas fuel i.e. biogas. Before investing, it is necessary to perform a detailed studies of the biogas efficiency of the substrates used. The proper run of fermentation process, as well as the high biogas production related to the operation, depend on many factors, including the mixing inside the reactor. The DIN 38 414-S8 standard, commonly used in the tests, assumes the mixing of the whole eudiometric sets, used in accredited laboratory units, which due to their uniform construction may cause problems. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of laboratory mixing in the fermentation reactor on the biogas efficiency of the maize straw. The experiment tests were performed in the Laboratory of Ecotechnologies, in the Poznan, in accordance with the current standard DIN 38 414-S8.The obtained research results confirmed the effect of mixing inside the fermentation reactors on the biogas efficiency of the maize straw.

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The Effect of the Addition of a Fat Emulsifier on the Amount and Quality of the Obtained Biogas

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13071825 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1825 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jakub Sikora ◽

Marcin Niemiec ◽

Anna Szeląg-Sikora ◽

Zofia Gródek-Szostak ◽

Maciej Kuboń ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carboxymethyl Cellulose ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Process Efficiency ◽

Cellulose Solution ◽

Methane Fermentation ◽

Poultry Processing ◽

Research Goal ◽

Hard Fraction ◽

Biogas Process

Slaughterhouse waste management is an important technological, economic, and environmental challenge. Recently, more and more attention has been paid to the possibility of obtaining biogas from waste generated by slaughterhouses. The aim of the paper was to examine the effect of an emulsifier addition in the form of a carboxymethyl cellulose solution to create animal waste fermentation media based on the quantity and quality of the generated biogas. The adopted research goal was achieved based on a laboratory experiment of methane fermenting poultry processing waste. The waste was divided into two fractions: soft (tissue) and hard (bone). A fat emulsifier in a concentration of 1%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10% of fresh weight of the substrate was added to each substrate sample made from the above fractions. The emulsifier used was a 55% carboxymethyl cellulose solution, since this emulsifier is most commonly used in food production. The experiment was conducted in order to determine how the addition of an emulsifier (55% carboxymethylcellulose solution) affects the hydration of fats during methane fermentation, as demonstrated on poultry slaughterhouse waste. The samples were subjected to static methane fermentation, according to the methodology of DIM DIN 38414(DIN Deutches Institut für Normung). The experiment lasted 30 days. The total amount of biogas obtained after fermentation was 398 mL·g−1 for the soft fraction and 402 mL·g−1 for the hard fraction. In the case of the soft waste fraction, the addition of carboxymethylcellulose at 1% of the mass to the biogas process increased the amount of obtained biogas by 16%. In the case of the hard fraction, no effect of the addition of emulsifier on the total amount of biogas obtained was identified. In each case, the biogas from substrates with added emulsifier contained less methane and slightly more carbon. The emulsifier added to the soft fraction of slaughterhouse waste from poultry processing allowed cutting the process of methanogenesis by over 50% while maintaining the efficiency of biogas production. In the case of biogasification of bone tissue, no unambiguous effect of the addition of emulsifier on the improvement of process efficiency was identified.

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The Effect of Electromagnetic Microwave Radiation on Methane Fermentation of Selected Energy Crop Species

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr10010045 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 45

Author(s):

Marcin Zieliński ◽

Marcin Dębowski ◽

Joanna Kazimierowicz

Keyword(s):

Microwave Radiation ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Production Capacity ◽

Energy Crop ◽

Maize Silage ◽

Methane Fermentation ◽

Crop Species ◽

Anaerobic Reactors ◽

Biomethane Production ◽

Methane Concentrations

The aim of the present study was to determine how thermal stimulation via electromagnetic microwave radiation impacts the yields of biogas and methane produced by methane fermentation of five selected energy crop species in anaerobic reactors. The resultant performance was compared with that of reactors with conventional temperature control. The highest biogas production capacity was achieved for maize silage and Virginia mallow silage (i.e., 680 ± 28 dm3N/kgVS and 506 ± 16 dm3N/kgVS, respectively). Microwave radiation as a method of heating anaerobic reactors provided a statistically-significantly boost in methane production from maize silage (18% increase). Biomethane production from maize silage rose from 361 ± 12 dm3N/kgVS to 426 ± 14 dm3N/kgVS. In the other experimental variants, the differences between methane concentrations in the biogas were non-significant.

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Modification of Energy Parameters in Wood Pellets with the Use of Waste Cooking Oil

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14206486 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (20) ◽

pp. 6486

Author(s):

Aneta Saletnik ◽

Bogdan Saletnik ◽

Czesław Puchalski

Keyword(s):

Fossil Fuels ◽

Calorific Value ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Waste Cooking Oil ◽

Wood Pellets ◽

Wood Pellet ◽

Heating Value ◽

Energy Parameters ◽

Cooking Oil

Biomass is one of the most important sources of renewable energy. It is expected that in the coming decades, biomass will play a major role in replacing fossil fuels. The most commonly used biofuels include wood pellet, which is a cost-effective, uniform and easy-to-use material. In view of the growing interest in this type of resource, novel methods are being investigated to improve the quality of pellet. This article presents the results of a laboratory study focusing on wood pellets refined with waste sunflower cooking oil applied by spraying. In this work, authors attempted to modify the energy parameters of wood pellets with the use of waste cooking oil. Addition of waste cooking oil, applied at the rates of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10% and 12% relative to the weight of pellets, increased the calorific value of the pellets without decreasing their durability. The highest dose of the modifier (12%) on average led to a 12–16% increase in calorific value. In each case, the addition of sunflower oil resulted in decreased contents of ash in the pellets; on average a decrease of 16–38% was observed in the samples treated with the highest dose of the modifier. The treatment led to a higher content of elements affecting the heating value, i.e., carbon and hydrogen, which on average increased by 7.5–12%, and 7.0–10.0%, respectively. The presented method seems to be a promising way of increasing the calorific value of pellets. Further research on refining the method and the possibility of using it in industry is necessary.

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