Abstract
Small-scale anaerobic digesters may provide more stable rates of gas production than large-scale plant, since fluctuations in the feed waste may be minimised. A versatile, readily assembled 5-litre capacity digester and alternative gas-collecting systems are described, with some details of their operation on poultry litter which had been stored dry at 4 °C. A continuously recording gas meter (Water Research Centre, UK) showed stable gas production rates were obtained with once-daily stirring and feeding. This rate dropped sharply over two days starvation, requiring 2–3 days consecutive feeding to return to a stable maximum. A minor component of the feed appeared to be utilised immediately. Continuous stirring had little effect on gas production; an immediate rise in gas production rate followed the addition of glucose, corresponding to conversion of 60% of the added glucose to CO 2 + CH 4 in 24 h.
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