Biogas production from anaerobic digestion of Spirulina maxima algal biomass

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Biotechnol. Bioeng. Symp.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260240822· OSTI ID:5149805

Samson, R; LeDuy, A

The semimicroscopic blue-green alga Spirulina maxima makes an ideal substrate for anaerobic digestion because it is easy to harvest, it can use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as its carbon source, and its fermentability is higher than that of other small algae. Digestion experiments demonstrated that S. maxima can serve as the sole nutrient for biogas production and that municipal sewage sludge, when adapted to this new substrate, is very stable. During semicontinuous daily-fed trials under non-optimal conditions at an 0.06 lb volatile solids (VS)/ft/sup 3/ (0.97 kg VS/m/sup 3/) loading rate, 33-day retention time, and 86/sup 0/F (30/sup 0/C) digestion temperature, the daily methane yield was 4.2 CF/lb (0.26 m/sup 3//kg) VS added, which represents 47% of the maximum theoretical yield. Studies on optimizing the process are underway.

• Research Organization: Universite Laval, Quebec, Canada
• OSTI ID: 5149805
• Journal Information: Biotechnol. Bioeng. Symp.; (United States), Vol. 24
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CYANOBACTERIA
CONTINUOUS CULTURE
METHANE
BIOSYNTHESIS
SEWAGE SLUDGE
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
CARBON DIOXIDE
GAS YIELDS
PRODUCTION
ALKANES
BIOCONVERSION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DIGESTION
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
SEWAGE
SLUDGES
SYNTHESIS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
YIELDS
090122* - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
550700 - Microbiology
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)