Energy from vascular plant wastewater treatment systems

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Econ. Bot.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02858689· OSTI ID:6482726

Wolverton, B C; McDonald, R C

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) duckweed (Spirodela sp. and Lemna sp.), water pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides), and kudzu (Pueraria lobata) were anaerobically fermented using an anaerobic filter technique that reduced the total digestion time from 90 d to an average of 23 d and produced 0.14 to 0.22 m/sup 3/ CH/sub 4//kg (dry weight) (2.3 to 3.6 ft/sup 3//lb) from mature filters for the 3 aquatic species. Kudzu required an average digestion time of 33 d and produced an average of 0.21 m/sup 3/ CH/sub 4//kg (dry weight) (3.4 ft/sup 3//lb). The anaerobic filter provided a large surface area for the anaerobic bacteria to establish and maintain an optimal balance of facultative, acid-forming, and methane-producing bacteria. Consequently the efficiency of the process was greatly improved over prior batch fermentations.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NSTL Station, MS
• OSTI ID: 6482726
• Journal Information: Econ. Bot.; (United States), Vol. 35:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
METHANE
BIOSYNTHESIS
WATER HYACINTHS
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
WEEDS
BATCH CULTURE
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
GAS YIELDS
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
PLANTS
SEWAGE
USES
WASTE WATER
WATER TREATMENT
ALKANES
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
DIGESTION
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
SYNTHESIS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
WATER
YIELDS
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090122 - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)