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Thermochemical pretreatment of nitrogenous materials to increase methane yield

Conference · · Biotechnol. Bioeng. Symp.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5747332

Nonoxidative thermochemical pretreatment can lead to substantial increases in the mesophilic anaerobic biodegradability of waste and sludge. This increase occurs in both the soluble and insoluble portions and is dependent on the temperature of treatment, and on the type of chemical used. The effect of thermochemical pretreatment on WAS is to promote hydrolysis and to split complex nitrogen polymers into simpler constituent molecules. However, as treatment conditions become more severe, nitrogen-containing organic material is formed which is refractory under the conditions studied. Thermochemical pretreatment causes the formation of toxic compounds, and this effect becomes more pronounced as treatment conditions become more severe. However, given sufficient time, methanogenic consortiums can acclimate to some extent to this inhibition. Oxygen appears not to be a controlling factor in the degradation of WAS. The refractory nature of nitrogenous materials in bacterial cells appears to be due in part to the protection afforded by the cell wall, but mostly to the inability of exocellular enzymes to hydrolyze complex nitrogenous macromolecules into simple biodegradable components. 5 figures, 7 tables.

Research Organization:
Stanford Univ., CA
OSTI ID:
5747332
Journal Information:
Biotechnol. Bioeng. Symp.; (United States), Journal Name: Biotechnol. Bioeng. Symp.; (United States) Vol. 8; ISSN BIBSB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English