Preliminary evaluation of swine manure as alternative feedstock for the Del Valle Hog Farm fuel alcohol facility. Final report

Technical Report · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5659246

Smith, D A; Vinson, J K

The purpose of this proejct was to investigate the use of swine manure as a feedstock for fuel alcohol plants. The project was conducted on the Del Valle Hog Farm and made use of the 24 gal/day fuel alcohol plant in operation there. The project involved the determination of the starch content of various samples of hog manure, and if an adequate source of starch was found, to use that manure as feedstock in full scale tests that would lead to a determination of the economic feasibility of such use. A full scale test consists of the conversion and fermentation of about 250 gallon batches of test feedstock. The production yield was determined by measurement of evolved gas during fermentation. The analysis of raw hog manure samples indicate that a good portion, about 19% by weight, of the dry matter is starch. The plant modifications required to operate with hog manure as feedstock appear to be reasonable and inexpensive. Full efficiency of conversion and fermentation was achieved with mash of about 4% solids concentration. However, with solids concentrations of 10% to 15%, the yeast died within a short time. A theory for the yeast deaths is that some yeast poison is present in the manure, and that it can be mitigated by dilution with water. Lab scale experiments confirm the dilution dependent behavior, however, no determination of the nature of the poison has been made. The study concludes that hog manure would be a viable feedstock if the yeast deaths can be prevented. The mash concentration could then be raised to 25% solids, and with screened manure of say 40% starch, the alcohol plant would work at 137% capacity with the same operating costs (acid, lime, yeast, but not heat) as with a batch of milo.

• Research Organization: SV and G Energy Resources, Inc., Austin, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5659246
• Report Number(s): TENRAC/EDF-106; ON: DE84900431
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
ETHANOL
BIOSYNTHESIS
MANURES
FERMENTATION
CELL KILLING
ETHANOL PLANTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
RAW MATERIALS
STARCH
SWINE
TOXICITY
YEASTS
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ALCOHOLS
ANIMALS
BIOCONVERSION
CARBOHYDRATES
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
FUNGI
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC WASTES
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
REAGENTS
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
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