Biological potential of methane generation from poultry wastes. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6256279

Shih, J C.H.

Anaerobic digestion of animal waste is an attractive process because it degrades organic matter for pollution control and simultaneously produces methane gas for an alternate energy source. The biological potentials of methane generation from the two major kinds of poultry wastes, the litter of broiler chickens and the manure of laying hens have been systematically investigated. Using these wastes to prepare media for bacterial growth, thermophilic anaerobic cultures were initiated by inoculations of bacteria from different natural environments. After a period of acclimation, they were then challenged with various combinations of operational variables such as retention times, volatile solid concentrations, temperatures, and pH values. The most efficient culture and conditions were selected based on the highest gas rate. The results have demonstrated that the broiler litter is a substrate of very low potential. This seems due to the high content of wood shavings resistant to bacterial degradation. On the other hand, the layer manure is a high-potential substrate, which supported both a high methane rate (3.5 1/1/day) and a high methane yield (250 1/kg VS) under the selected conditions. Compared with other types of animal wastes, the manure of laying hens is one of the best substrates for methane production. Based on the data obtained in the laboratory, an anaerobic digester is under construction on the University research farm. A large digester will help answer other questions such as energy balance, economic evaluation and engineering design.

• Research Organization: North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (USA). Lab. of Applied Biochemistry
• OSTI ID: 6256279
• Report Number(s): NCEI-0035; ON: DE82900582
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
MANURES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
METHANE
BIOSYNTHESIS
CHICKENS
FOWL
PH VALUE
PRODUCTION
RESIDUES
WOOD WASTES
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ALKANES
ANIMALS
BIOCONVERSION
BIRDS
DIGESTION
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC WASTES
PROCESSING
SOLID WASTES
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)