Improved efficiency and stable digestion of biomass in non-mixed upflow solids reactors

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6970860

Srivastava, V J; Fannin, K F; Chynoweth, D P; Frank, J R

A non-mixed upflow solids reactor (USR), which permitted longer solids than hydraulic retention times, was used to study the anaerobic digestion performance of sea kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). The performance of the USR was compared to that of the continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) at different organic loading rates in terms of methane yield, methane production rate, and process stability. Results showed that, although digester performance was markedly affected by kelp compositional variability, methane yields and production rates in the USR were significantly higher than those observed with the CSTR. Results also showed that volatile acid concentrations, which are generally inversely related to digester stability, were significantly lower in the USR than in the CSTR. 8 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6970860
• Report Number(s): CONF-870523-9; ON: TI88017161
• 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)
ALGAE
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIOCONVERSION
BIODEGRADATION
BIOGAS PROCESS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DESIGN
DIGESTION
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
METHANE
OPERATION
OPTIMIZATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
TESTING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING