Biogas Production—The Effect of the Zinc Concentration on the Profile of Volatile Fatty Acids in Fermentation Mixtures

Abstract

The development of renewable energy sources is one of the most important paths for today’s economy to follow. Currently, the process of obtaining energy from the combustion of methane extracted by methane fermentation is gaining importance. To improve its efficiency and the speed of the fermentation process and enzyme activation, this study analyzed the effect of the addition of zinc as a micronutrient to fermentation processes using corn silage. The zinc concentration in the fermenter required to stimulate fermentation processes was determined. Studies were conducted to determine inhibitory and toxic concentrations. The determination of the influence of zinc ions on the VFA profile and the value of the carbon-to-methane conversion coefficient is important for the economic aspects of obtaining biogas with the highest methane content. The carbon-to-methane conversion factor and the effect of the addition of zinc on the value of this factor were determined. During the course of the research, modern analytical chemistry methods and techniques were used. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal concentration of zinc in the digester to maximize the methane yield of the fermentation process.