Coupled high solids fermentation and anaerobic filtration of cellulosic residues

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5218535

Lin, Y M

A coupled high solids fermentation and attached-growth anaerobic filtration process to produce methane from cellulosic residues was developed and successfully operated for 18 months using wheat straw as the substrate. The process was conducted in eight 600 ml packed reactors and two anaerobic filters connected in series allowing semi-continuous feeding of straw at a solids concentration of 34%. The major functions of the packed reactors were the hydrolysis of the solid substrate and the production of organic acids. The volatile fatty acid COD, composed mostly by acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, was produced at a slower rate than soluble COD in the packed reactors. Specific methane production rates as high as 2.1 liter CH/sub 4/ per day per liter reactor volume and a volatile fatty acid COD removal efficiency of 98% were obtained. Total methane production per unit weight of substrate input was 104.3 ml CH/sub 4/ per gram of straw input with 40 days substrate solids retention time and 76.3 ml CH/sub 4//g straw with 18 days solids retention time. Results of a direct input study, without the liquid reservoir, suggested that the methanogenic bacteria in the anaerobic filters could sustain methane production during transient loading, although the suddenly increased substrate could not be completely utilized on the first pass. A mathematical model of solid substrate degradation in the packed reactor was developed.

• Research Organization: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5218535
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BACTERIA
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOCONVERSION
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CEREALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DIGESTION
FERMENTATION
GRASS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROLYSIS
KINETICS
LYSIS
MANAGEMENT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METHANE
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
PROCESSING
REACTION KINETICS
SOLVOLYSIS
STRAW
SYNTHESIS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WHEAT