Biogasification of woody biomass

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5392805

Jerger, D E; Conrad, J R; Fannin, K F; Chynoweth, D P

Studies were initiated to determine the potential of land biomass for the production of methane by biological gasification. Six woody species were subjected to proximate and ultimate analyses and were evaluated for their biogasification potential by semicontinuous and batch-fed anaerobic digester studies in the presence and absence of excess nitrogen and phosphorus. A simple batch bioassay was also used to estimate anaerobic biodegradability. Semicontinuous-fed anaerobic digester studies with woody feedstocks under baseline conditions resulted in methane yields less than 1 SCF/lb VS added. With the addition of excess nutrients, increases were observed in the methane yields for all woody species; however, the yields were still below 1 SCF/lb VS added. Longer solids retention times resulted in a substantital increase in methane yields. Batch-fed anaerobic digester studies (60 to 120 day incubation period) were performed to compare the biodegradability of the feeds with that of semicontinuous-fed digester experiments. These studies resulted in methane yields greater than 3 SCF/lb VS added for four of the six species and approached 5 SCF/lb VS added for hybrid poplar. The high methane yields obtained in these studies resulted from increased solids retention times, which appear to be technically and economically feasible due to the low moisture content of the woody feeds. These methane yields compare favorably with results obtained from biomass species containing much lower lignin concentrations and, to our knowledge, represent the highest yields reported from woody biomass.

• Research Organization: Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5392805
• Report Number(s): CONF-820127-8; ON: DE82902743
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090122 -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299003 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation-- Other-- (-1989)
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIOCONVERSION
BIODEGRADATION
BIOMASS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONIFERS
DECOMPOSITION
DIGESTION
ENERGY SOURCES
EUCALYPTUSES
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PINES
PLANTS
POPLARS
PROCESSING
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SYCAMORES
TREES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WOOD
YIELDS