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Title: Estimation of potential biomass resource and biogas production from aquatic plants in Argentina

Journal Article · · Energy Int.; (United States)

The Argentine government's Agua y Energia Electrica is planning to construct a hydroelectric power-generation facility on the middle Parana River, which is already heavily infested with aquatic weeds such as water hyacinth. These species will probably proliferate in the lakes that will be formed by the power project and perhaps seriously interfere with the facility. As a solution to this problem, Argentine biochemists propose mechanical harvesting and anaerobic fermentation of the aquatic plants to produce biogas and fertilizer. According to an evaluation of this potential resource, gross methane production could reach 37-153 billion CF (1.0-4.1 billion m/sup 3/)/yr, and the digested residue could provide 60,500-244,000 tons (54,900-221,400 metric tons)/yr of nitrogen, which represents 2-8 times Argentina's current nitrogen fertilizer demand.

Research Organization:
Centro de Estudios Fotosinteticos y Bioquimicos, Ullo, Agrentina
OSTI ID:
5149743
Journal Information:
Energy Int.; (United States), Vol. 7:8
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English