Progress in the Production of Biogas from Maize Silage after Acid-Heat Pretreatment

One of the most effective technologies involving the use of lignocellulosic biomass is the production of biofuels, including methane-rich biogas. In order to increase the amount of gas produced, it is necessary to optimize the fermentation process, for example, by substrate pretreatment. The present study aimed to analyze the coupled effects of microwave radiation and the following acids: phosphoric(V) acid (H3PO4), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and sulfuric(VI) acid (H2SO4), on the destruction of a lignocellulosic complex of maize silage biomass and its susceptibility to anaerobic degradation in the methane fermentation process. The study compared the effects of plant biomass (maize silage) disintegration using microwave and conventional heating; the criterion differentiating experimental variants was the dose of acid used, i.e., 10% H3PO4, 10% HCl, and 10% H2SO4 in doses of 0.02, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, and 0.40 g/gTS. Microwave heating caused a higher biogas production in the case of all acids tested (HCl, H2SO4, H3PO4). The highest biogas volume, exceeding 1800 L/kgVS, was produced in the variant with HCl used at a dose of 0.4 g/gTS.

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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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Biogas composition depending on the type of plant biomass used

Research in Agricultural Engineering ◽

10.17221/41/2010-rae ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 57 (No. 4) ◽

pp. 137-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

M. Herout ◽

J. Malaťák ◽

L. Kučera ◽

T. Dlabaja

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Sulphide ◽

Fermentation Process ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Anaerobic Fermentation ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Biogas Plant ◽

Raw Material ◽

Maize Silage ◽

High Concentrations

The aim of the work is to determine and analyse concentrations of individual biogas components according to the used raw materials based on plant biomass. The measurement is focused on biogas production depending on input raw materials like maize silage, grass haylage and rye grain. The total amount of plant biomass entering the fermenter during the measurement varies at around 40% w/w, the rest is liquid beef manure. The measured values are statistically evaluated and optimised for the subsequent effective operation of the biogas plant. A biogas plant operating on the principle of wet anaerobic fermentation process is used for the measurement. The biogas production takes place during the wet fermentation process in the mesophile operation at an average temperature of 40°C. The technology of the biogas plant is based on the principle of using two fermenters. It follows from the measured results that maize silage with liquid beef manure in the ratio of 40:60 can produce biogas with a high content of methane; this performance is not stable. At this concentration of input raw material, the formation of undesirable high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide occurs as well. It is shown from the results that the process of biogas production is stabilised by the addition of other components of plant biomass like grass haylage and rye grain and a limitation of the formation of hydrogen sulphide occurs. It follows from the results that the maize silage should form about 80% w/w from the total amount of the plant biomass used.

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Microwaves and Heterogeneous Catalysis: A Review on Selected Catalytic Processes

Catalysts ◽

10.3390/catal10020246 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 246 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Vincenzo Palma ◽

Daniela Barba ◽

Marta Cortese ◽

Marco Martino ◽

Simona Renda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heterogeneous Catalysis ◽

Energy Saving ◽

Microwave Heating ◽

Microwave Radiation ◽

Heterogeneous Catalysts ◽

Conventional Heating ◽

Specific Effects ◽

Natural Choice ◽

Future Challenges ◽

Catalyzed Reactions

Since the late 1980s, the scientific community has been attracted to microwave energy as an alternative method of heating, due to the advantages that this technology offers over conventional heating technologies. In fact, differently from these, the microwave heating mechanism is a volumetric process in which heat is generated within the material itself, and, consequently, it can be very rapid and selective. In this way, the microwave-susceptible material can absorb the energy embodied in the microwaves. Application of the microwave heating technique to a chemical process can lead to both a reduction in processing time as well as an increase in the production rate, which is obtained by enhancing the chemical reactions and results in energy saving. The synthesis and sintering of materials by means of microwave radiation has been used for more than 20 years, while, future challenges will be, among others, the development of processes that achieve lower greenhouse gas (e.g., CO2) emissions and discover novel energy-saving catalyzed reactions. A natural choice in such efforts would be the combination of catalysis and microwave radiation. The main aim of this review is to give an overview of microwave applications in the heterogeneous catalysis, including the preparation of catalysts, as well as explore some selected microwave assisted catalytic reactions. The review is divided into three principal topics: (i) introduction to microwave chemistry and microwave materials processing; (ii) description of the loss mechanisms and microwave-specific effects in heterogeneous catalysis; and (iii) applications of microwaves in some selected chemical processes, including the preparation of heterogeneous catalysts.

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Microwave Radiation Influence on Dairy Waste Anaerobic Digestion in a Multi-Section Hybrid Anaerobic Reactor (M-SHAR)

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9101772 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 1772

Author(s):

Marcin Zieliński ◽

Marcin Dębowski ◽

Joanna Kazimierowicz

Keyword(s):

Microwave Radiation ◽

Food Industry ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Cod Removal ◽

Organic Load ◽

Radiation Heating ◽

Methane Fermentation ◽

Anaerobic Reactor ◽

Dairy Waste ◽

Acid Whey

Whey is a primary by-product of dairy plants, and one that is often difficult to manage. As whey processing units are costly and complicated, only 15–20% of whey is recycled for use in the food industry. The difficulties in managing waste whey are particularly pronounced for small, local dairy plants. One possible solution to this problem is to use advanced and efficient digesters. The aim of this study was to present an innovative multi-section hybrid anaerobic bioreactor (M-SHAR) design and to identify how microwave radiation heating (MRH) affects methane fermentation of liquid dairy waste (LDW) primarily composed of acid whey. The MRH reactor was found to perform better in terms of COD removal and biogas production compared with the convection-heated reactor. The heating method had a significant differentiating effect at higher organic load rates (OLRs). With OLRs ranging from 15 to 25 kgCOD∙m−3∙d−1, the M-SHAR with MRH ensured a 5% higher COD removal efficiency and 12–20% higher biogas yields.

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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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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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Synthesis of Biodiesel Using Castor Oil under Microwave Radiation

International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering ◽

10.1515/1542-6580.2562 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hong Yuan ◽

Bolun Yang ◽

Hailiang Zhang ◽

Xiaowei Zhou

Keyword(s):

Microwave Heating ◽

Microwave Radiation ◽

Castor Oil ◽

High Performance ◽

Radiation Power ◽

Acid Methyl Ester ◽

Conventional Heating ◽

Molar Ratio ◽

Heterogeneous Base Catalyst ◽

Heterogeneous Base

The castor oil was adopted to synthesize biodiesel (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester, FAME) under microwave radiation. Acid catalysts (NaHSO4H2O and AlCl3) and heterogeneous base catalyst (Na2CO3) were evaluated in the present study. The amounts of FAME in the product were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Experimental results show that the microwave radiation was an efficient method to enhance the reaction process. When the transesterification was carried out at 338 K, with 18:1 molar ratio of methanol to castor oil, 7.5wt% mass ratio of catalyst to castor oil, 200w microwave radiation power and 120 minutes reaction time, yields of 74, 73, 90% were obtained respectively using catalysts of NaHSO4H2O, AlCl3 and Na2CO3. The energy consumed by microwave heating and conventional heating in transesterification were measured, and the results showed that the microwave heating consumed less energy than the conventional heating to achieve the same amount of FAME.

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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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Development of optimum substrate compositions in the methane fermentation process

International Agrophysics ◽

10.1515/intag-2015-0037 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 313-321 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Justyna Lalak ◽

Agnieszka Kasprzycka ◽

Ewelina M. Paprota ◽

Jerzy Tys ◽

Aleksandra Murat

Keyword(s):

Organic Waste ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Chemical Parameters ◽

Maize Silage ◽

Methane Fermentation ◽

Biogas Yield ◽

Parameters Analysis ◽

Agriculture And Food ◽

Physical And Chemical ◽

By Products

AbstractThe aim of the study was to assess the potential of organic wastes from the agriculture and food industry as co-substrate for biogas production, on the basis of physical and chemical parameters analysis and biogas yield in the process of methane fermentation. The experimental material consisted of carrot pomace, kale by-products and maize silage. Methane fermentation was conducted in bioreactors equipped with an automatic control and measurement system. The study indicated correct physicochemical properties in terms of high content of dry organic matter and also correct C/N ratio. That was reflected in high biogas yields which amounted to, respectively, 558 N dm3kg−1VS−1for carrot pomace and kale by-products, and 526 N dm3kg−1VS−1for maize silage. The study showed that the intensity of biogas production was varied and depended on the composition of fermented mixtures. Methane fermentation of organic waste mixtures significantly increased the amount of biogas efficiency compared to the fermentation of individual substrates. The successful run of the experiment indicates that a mixture composed of carrot pomace and kale by-products is a good substrate for the production of biogas.

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Impact of Adding Biopreparations on the Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Sewage Sludge with Grease Trap Waste

Civil and Environmental Engineering Reports ◽

10.1515/ceer-2016-0045 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 167-179 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Małgorzata Worwąg

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Fermentation Process ◽

Hydraulic Retention Time ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Methyl Esters ◽

Production Plant ◽

Similar Relationship ◽

Methane Fermentation ◽

Grease Trap Waste ◽

Mesophilic Conditions

Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of using biopreparations on efficiency of the co-fermentation process. Commercial bacterial biopreparations DBC Plus Type L, DBC Plus Type R5 and yeast biopreparations were used in the study. The process of cofermentation of sewage sludge with grease trap waste from a production plant that manufactured methyl esters of fatty acids was analysed in the laboratory environment under mesophilic conditions. The sludge in the reactor was replaced once a day, with hydraulic retention time of 10 days. Grease trap waste accounted for 35%wt. of the fermentation mixture. The stabilization process was monitored everyday based on the measurements of biogas volume. Addition of yeast biopreparation to methane fermentation of sewage sludge with grease trap waste caused an increase in mean daily biogas production from 6.9 dm3 (control mixture) to 9.21dm3 (mixture M3). No differences in biogas production were found for other cases (mixtures M1, M2). A similar relationship was observed for methane content in biogas.

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