Biological production of methane from energy crops
Approximately one-fourth of the total energy requirement in the United States could be met by employing present farming techniques on idle lands to produce biomass and by utilizing biomass from agricultural wastes. Conversion of these agricultural materials to methane gas can be accomplished by the process of anaerobic digestion. It has been shown that the microbial reaction kinetics of this process can be approximated by a first order reaction based on carbon concentration. A specific rate constant of 0.086 days/sup -1/ has been determined for various agricultural materials. Bioconversion of plant matter to methane gas is economically attractive at today's fossil fuel prices. Projections based on present technology show that a reasonable return could be expected for a 50 million cubic foot per day (Mscf/day) facility and a gas price of $2/Mscf. Further study should be concentrated on increasing reaction rates, and even better economics could result. 20 references, 2 figures, 2 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Missouri, Rolla
- OSTI ID:
- 6136227
- Journal Information:
- Commod. J.; (United States), Vol. 13:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
ECONOMICS
METHANE
BIOCONVERSION
BIOMASS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
REACTION KINETICS
ALKANES
DIGESTION
ENERGY SOURCES
HYDROCARBONS
KINETICS
MANAGEMENT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC WASTES
PROCESSING
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
090222* - Alcohol Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)