Methane Gas Production Rate Research Articles

Effect of water regime on the dynamics of free ammonia during high solid anaerobic digestion of pig manure

Free ammonia (FAN) inhibition is commonly encountered during high solid anaerobic digestion (HSAD) of pig manure. The performance of HSAD is highly related to its operational water regime; however, little information is available regarding the dynamics of free ammonia with varied water regimes. In this work, four treatments were set with equal amount of water supply but varied addition frequencies, i.e. add once but at different times in treatments T1 and T2, add twice in T3 while it was three times in treatment T4. Results showed that the whole methanogenic process ran smoothly with the average methane gas production rate maintaining at 191.1 LCH4/kgVSadded. Although a higher methane gas production rate of 217.4 LCH4/kgVSadded was achieved in T1, one time water addition triggered a higher ammonia inhibition potential. Cumulative FAN release was 6.03 mgFAN/kgVSadded in T1 while the balance between FAN and ammonia tended to the fraction of FAN. In T4, cumulative FAN of 5.07 mgFAN/kgVSadded was evolved, which was lower than that in T1 but similar to the situation in T2. The lowest FAN was observed in T3, indicating that a moderate frequency of dilution might be conducive to alleviate free ammonia inhibition.

An integrated anaerobic system for on-site treatment of wastewater from food waste disposer.

In this study, an integrated system of siphon-driven self-agitated anaerobic reactor (SDSAR) and anaerobic fixed bed reactor (AFBR) was conducted for the treatment of wastewater from food waste disposer (FWD), and the effect of influent total solids (TS) concentration on the process performance was evaluated. When the influent TS concentration increased from 7.04 to 15.5g/L, the methane gas production rate increased from 0.45 to 0.92L-CH4/L/day. However, with the influent TS concentration of food waste (FW) further increased to 23.5g/L, a large amount of scum formed and accumulated in the SDSAR. According to the result of chemical oxygen demand (COD) recovery, the proportion of COD remained in the effluent at different TS concentrations was only around 2%. On the other hand, with an increase in TS concentration, the proportion of COD remained in the reactors increased significantly. Our results demonstrated that effluent from the integrated system can meet the water quality requirements recommended by Japan Sewage Works Association (JSWA) for wastewater from FWD. In addition, to enhance the process stability, the influent TS concentration should be maintained below 15.5g/L.

Performance study on organic carbon, total nitrogen, suspended solids removal and biogas production in hybrid UASB reactor treating real slaughterhouse wastewater

The performance of slaughterhouse wastewater treatment was studied in Hybrid Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor (HUASBR) consisting of polypropylene media as attached growth surface. During acclimation phase, the amount of real slaughterhouse wastewater was gradually increased, whereas the amount of synthetic wastewater was proportionally decreased in a mixed feed to the reactor. The batch performance was evaluated by feeding 1000 ml of raw slaughterhouse wastewater and observing consistent Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal over a batch period of 72 h. After attaining maximum COD removal efficiency and maximum methane gas production, the reactor was operated under continuous mode with gradually increasing Total Organic Carbon (TOC) loading rate. The reactor showed steady increase in the TOC removal efficiency as well as incremental biogas production. In this study, TOC loading rate was varied in the range of (1.12–14.19)kg TOC/m3/d corresponding to decremental Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of (24–6) hours. The HUASBR enhanced the TOC removal efficiency in slaughterhouse wastewater up to maximum of 95.85% under the TOC loading rate of 6.97 kg TOC/m3/d for 10 h HRT. The TSS removal efficiency was observed to be in the range of (72–98) % throughout the study. Similarly, The TN removal was also recorded between (48–78) % out of all the continuous operations. The maximum methane gas production rate was observed as 61.5 L/d at 10 h HRT.

Comparison of thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic treatment for potato processing wastewater using a contact reactor

In this study, different organic loading rates (OLRs) ranging from 1.1 to 5.0 kg COD/m3·day were used to assess the performance of an anaerobic reactor at the optimum mesophilic (35°C) and thermophilic (55°C) temperatures. The methane gas production rate of the thermophilic treatment was higher than that of the mesophilic treatment. The efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was observed to range from 89.12 to 93.20% following the thermophilic anaerobic treatment and from 76.36 to 92.62% following the mesophilic treatment. The average VFA (volatile fatty acid)/alkalinity ratio of the effluent was 0.3 under both thermophilic and mesophilic conditions for all the OLR applications. The HPr/HAc (propionic acid/acetic acid) ratio was calculated as 0.16 and 1.3 for the mesophilic and thermophilic treatments, respectively. For the mesophilic treatment, the average methane gas production was found to be 0.394 m3 CH4/kg CODremoved while it was 0.42 m3 CH4/kg CODremoved for the thermophilic experiment. However, the sludge settleability of the mesophilic treatment was better than that of the thermophilic treatment.

Estimating methane gas production in peat soils of the Florida Everglades using hydrogeophysical methods

AbstractThe spatial and temporal variability in production and release of greenhouse gases (such as methane) in peat soils remains uncertain, particularly for low‐latitude peatlands like the Everglades. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a hydrogeophysical tool that has been successfully used in the last decade to noninvasively investigate carbon dynamics in peat soils; however, application in subtropical systems is almost non‐existent. This study is based on four field sites in the Florida Everglades, where changes in gas content within the soil are monitored using time‐lapse GPR measurements and gas releases are monitored using gas traps. A weekly methane gas production rate is estimated using a mass balance approach, considering gas content estimated from GPR, gas release from gas traps and incorporating rates of diffusion, and methanotrophic consumption from previous studies. Resulting production rates range between 0.02 and 0.47 g CH4 m−2 d−1, falling within the range reported in literature. This study shows the potential of combining GPR with gas traps to monitor gas dynamics in peat soils of the Everglades and estimate methane gas production. We also show the enhanced ability of certain peat soils to store gas when compared to others, suggesting that physical properties control biogenic gas storage in the Everglades peat soils. Better understanding biogenic methane gas dynamics in peat soils has implications regarding the role of wetlands in the global carbon cycle, particularly under a climate change scenario.

A dynamic simulation of methane fermentation process receiving heterogeneous food wastes and modelling acidic failure

Microbial response on volatile fatty acids (VFAs) is a key for methane fermentation processes since accumulation of VFAs often causes an acidic failure, especially treating such organics as food wastes composed of mostly readily biodegradable materials. To evaluate the impact of VFA accumulation, a lab-scale continuous experiment was performed for 110 days with sequential feeding of heterogeneous food wastes. When the volumetric loading rate was increased from 6 to 8 kg-COD/m3/day, a sudden decrease of methane production was observed with an accumulation of acetate and propionate in the fermenter. After discontinuation of feeding for 10 days, the digestate in the fermenter was centrifuged and washed with tap water to reduce the VFAs to be acceptable concentration below 1000 mg-COD/L. Nevertheless, no recovery of methane production was observed and VFA concentrations consistently increased. To model the event, a modification of ADM1 was made assuming the methanogens in the fermenter were irreversibly inactivated under very high VFA. Also considering the different nature of the fed food wastes over 11 samples, decomposition kinetics of individual food wastes were manipulated. The modified ADM1 with methanogenic activity decay reasonably reproduced the responses for soluble material concentrations and methane gas production rate over the experimental period.

The potential of ultrasonic membrane anaerobic systems in treating slaughterhouse wastewater

Direct discharge of slaughterhouse wastewater causes serious environmental pollution due to its high chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS) and biochemical oxygen demand. In this study, an ultrasonic-assisted membrane anaerobic system was used as a novel method for treating slaughterhouse wastewater. Six steady states were achieved, using concentrations of 7,800–13,620 mg/l for mixed liquor suspended solids and 5,359–11,424 mg/l for mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS). Kinetic equations were used to describe the kinetics of treatment at organic loading rates of 3–11 kg COD/m3/d. The removal efficiency of COD was 94.8–96.5% with hydraulic retention times of 308.6–8.7 days. The growth yield coefficient was found to be 0.52 g VSS/g. COD was 0.21 d−1 and methane gas production rate was 0.24–0.56 l/g COD/d. Steady-state influent COD concentrations increased from 8,000 mg/l in the first steady state to 25,400 mg/l in the sixth steady state. The minimum solids retention time, θcmin obtained from the three kinetic models was 6–14.4 days. The k values were 0.35–0.519 g COD/g VSS.d and μmax values were between 0.26 and 0.379 d−1. The solids retention time decreased from 600 to 14.3 days. The complete treatment reduced the COD content and its removal efficiency reached 94.8%.

Determination of methane emission rates on a biogas plant using data from laser absorption spectrometry

The aim of the work was to establish a method for emission control of biogas plants especially the observation of fugitive methane emissions. The used method is in a developmental stage but the topic is crucial to environmental and economic issues.A remote sensing measurement method was adopted to determine methane emission rates of a biogas plant in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. An inverse dispersion model was used to deduce emission rates. This technique required one concentration measurement with an open path tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer (TDLAS) downwind and upwind the source and basic wind information, like wind speed and direction.Different operating conditions of the biogas plant occurring on the measuring day (December 2013) could be represented roughly in the results. During undisturbed operational modes the methane emission rate averaged 2.8g/s, which corresponds to 4% of the methane gas production rate of the biogas plant.

Preliminary Study on the Effect of Ethylene Diamine- n, n-diacetic Acid on Methane Gas Production Rate from Cow Manure

In an effort to improve methane gas production rate from cattle slurry; ethylene diamine- N, N-diacetic acid chelating ligand was introduced into the digester system. Experimental analysis involving the determination of trace metals, pH and methane gas yield, were carried out with the use of the Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and Biogas5000 analyser. The results showed that there was an increase in the pH of the system; the amount of methane gas yield equally increased by 12% and the Hydraulic Retention Time decreased from 50 days to 25 days on addition of ethylene diamine- N, N-diacetic acid chelating ligand. Also, increasing the concentration of the chelating ligand further decreased the HRT of the digester system from 25 days to 19days. Concentration of trace metals like Iron, Cobalt and Nickel within the digester system ranged from 0.001-0.050 mg/L; these metals reacted with ethylene diamine- N, N-diacetic acid chelating ligand to form metal chelates. The metal chelate formed resulted in the catalysis of the hydrolysis stage (which is the rate determining step) of the anaerobic digestion process. Thus, the decrease in HRT was due to the metal chelate catalysis of the hydrolysis stage of the anaerobic digestion process were the metal chelate formation served as the driving force in the solvolysis process.

혼합공정과 부착성장공정을 조합한 2단계 혐기 조합공정에서 palm oil mill effluent의 처리

Present study was conducted to evaluate the performance of Anaerobic Hybrid Reactor (AHR) combined with two types of anaerobic attached growth reactors at mesophilic temperature (37 °C). The reactor was operated at the influent substrate condition of 19,400 mg/L soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD). The organic loading rate (OLR) and flow rate were varied in the range of 9.5 ~ 22.5 kg/m . day and 10.6 ~ 26.0 L/day respectively since start-up was done. The COD removal efficiency of 93 % was measured at the OLR of 14 kg/m . day in AHR. However a reduction in removal efficiency to as low as 85 % could have been related to a combined effect of high concentration suspended solids (SS) concentration over 3,800 mg/L. On the other hand the total COD removal efficiencies were measured to be 96.3 % and 96.2 % for AHR+APF and AHR+ADF respectively. The pH of the POME was adjusted to neutral range by using sodium bicarbonate at the initial stages of the reactor feed, later stages pH adjustment was not required as the pH was maintained in the desired neutral range due to selfbuffering capacity of the reactor. The reactor proved to be economically acceptable and operationally stable. The biogas was measured to have CH 4 and CO 2 with a ratio of 35:65, and methane gas production rate was estimated to be 0.17 ~ 10.269 L CH 4 /g COD removed.

Effects of Operation Conditions on the Performance of the ASBR Methane Fermentation of Syrup Wastewater

Methane fermentation of the syrup wastewater was conducted using the anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR). Organic loading rate (OLR), which is calculated by dividing the substrate concentration in the wastewater by hydraulic retention time (HRT), was set at the same value in two runs; R1 with longer HRT and higher concentration of substrate, and R2 with shorter HRT and lower concentration of substrate. The effects of HRT and substrate concentration on the performance of the methane fermentation were tried to be elucidated by comparing two experimental runs. The OLR was increased stepwisely from 2.6 to 20.4 g-COD/L/d. No significant difference was observed until the OLR of 10.2 g-COD/L/d. After the OLR increased to 20.4 g-COD/L/d, oxidation reduction potential (ORP) in R2 with short HRT of 3.1 days increased immediately and methane gas production rate (MPR) decreased drastically. In contrast, the ORP of R1 with long HRT of 6.2 days was in the range from -450 to -350mV, and high MPR was maintained for a while though the OLR in R1 was the same with that in R2. More than 10 days of operation with the OLR of 20.4 g-COD/L/d, however, the pH in R1 decreased abruptly and the MPR also decreased rapidly. It was revealed that the collapse of methane fermentation caused by the too short HRT occurred faster than that caused by the too high concentration of substrate.

Evaluation of Methane Yield on Mesophilic-Dry Anaerobic Digestion of Piggery Manure Mixed with Chaff for Agricultural Area

A mesophilic-dry anaerobic digestion process is valid in treating high-concentration substrates containing low moisture content. It has merits of lower wastewater discharge and lower heat capacity required in maintaining reactor temperature as compared with a thermophilic-wet anaerobic digestion process. In fact, chaff can be easily obtained in farming areas and used as a mixture substrate as one of bulking agents for controlling moisture and supplying carbon. For this reason, this study applies the chaff to improve livestock manure, which contains high moisture content and is discharged from domestic pig farms. This study aims at verifying its feasibility for improving methane production efficiency on a basis of BMP (Biochemical Methane Potential) assay obtained through a series of experiments. Finding results were methane gas production and gas production per volatile solid (VS) added, and methane gas production among biogas production were increased as the chaff added in the piggery manure was increased. According to experimental results for improving the methane production efficiency, mixture of the chaff and the piggery manure played an important role in controlling the moisture content and improving the methane gas production rate, and also verified its feasibility in the mesophilic-dry anaerobic digestion process indicating relatively less difficulty for operation and management.

ADM1 performance using SS-OFMSW with non-acclimated inoculums

This paper assesses the anaerobic digestion (AD) of the source-sorted organic fraction of municipal solid waste (SS-OFMSW). For this purpose, an experimental programme was implemented involving the operation and monitoring of two bench-scale anaerobic digesters, continuously fed with SS-OFMSW. The mathematical model (ADM1) was then applied to simulate the process of AD of SS-OFMSW. While start-up of the digesters was relatively slow, re-inoculation with cattle manure with effluent dilution reduced the acclimation period and achieved better stability, accommodating a feeding rate at an OLR = 2.39 kg TVS m(-3) day(-1). The high recorded methane gas production rate, reaching (0.1-2.5 m(3) CH(4)/m(3) reactor day), confirms the excellent biodegradability of the type of waste used (SS-OFMSW) and its suitability for AD. Satisfactory simulations of soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, and methane composition of biogas were obtained, whereas volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in both reactors were over-predicted albeit capturing its general trend.

Tratamento anaeróbio de resíduos sólidos orgânicos com alta e baixa concentração de sólidos

A finalidade principal deste trabalho foi estudar o tratamento anaeróbio de resíduos sólidos orgânicos com alta e baixa concentração de sólidos. O sistema experimental se compunha de dois reatores com capacidade unitária de 2.200 L, enquanto o substrato utilizado era composto de resíduos sólidos vegetais e lodo de esgotos sanitários, sendo um dos reatores alimentado com substrato contendo 20% de sólidos totais (80% de umidade) e o outro com apenas 5% de sólidos totais (95% de umidade). Verificou-se, quando da utilização de substrato contendo 5% (percentagem em peso) de sólidos totais, que o tempo de retenção de sólidos requerido para que fossem alcançados 80% de redução da massa de DQO aplicada, foi de 90 dias, propiciando uma taxa de produção de gás metano de 0,25 Nm³ CH4 kg-1 DQO Aplicada. Com relação ao substrato contendo 20% de sólidos totais, o tempo de retenção de sólidos requerido para bioestabilizar 80% da massa de DQO aplicada, foi de 270 dias, com taxa de produção de gás metano de 0,10 Nm³ CH4 kg-1 DQO Aplicada.

Predicting the Methane Gas Generation Rate at Landfill Sites Using the Methane Gas Generation Rate Constant (k)

In this study, the Tier 2 method recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was used to predict the methane generation rate at two landfill sites, designated as Y and C for purposes of this study, in South Korea. Factors such as the average annual waste disposal, methane emissions (<TEX>$L_0$</TEX>) and methane gas generation rate constant (k) were estimated by analyses of waste and the historical data for the landfills. The value of k was estimated by field experiments and then the changes in the methane generation rate were predicted through the year 2050, based on the value of k. The Y landfill site, which was in operation until the year 2008, will generate a total of 17, 198.7 tons by the end of 2018, according to our estimations. At the C landfill site, which will not be closed until the end of 2011, the amount of methane gas generated in 2011 will be 3,316 tons and the total amount of gas generated by 2029 will be 61,200 tons. The total production rate of methane gas at the C landfill is higher than that of the Y landfill. This indicates that the capacity of a landfill site affects the production rate of methane gas. However, the interrelation between the generation rate of methane and the value of k is weak. In addition, the generation of methane gas does not cease even when the operations at a landfill site come to a close and the methane gas production rate is at its highest at end of the operating life of a landfill site.

Novel anaerobic process for the recovery of methane and compost from food waste

Multi-step sequential batch two-phase anaerobic composting (MUSTAC) process was used to recover methane and composted material from food waste. The MUSTAC process consists of five leaching beds for hydrolysis, acidification and post-treatment, and an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for methane recovery. This process involves the combined methods of sequential batch operation and two-phase anaerobic digestion for simple operation and high efficiency. Rumen microorganisms are inoculated due to their enhanced cellulolytic activity. Each leaching bed is operated in a sequential batch mode. Five leaching beds are operated in a multi-step mode with a two-day interval between degradation stages. Acidified products in the leachate from the leaching beds are converted to methane in the UASB reactor. The MUSTAC process demonstrated that it was capable of removing 84.9% of volatile solids (VS) and converting 85.6% of biochemical methane potential (BMP) into methane at 10.9 kg VS/m3 x d in 10 days. Methane gas production rate was 2.31 m3/m3 x d. The output from the post-treatment of residues in the same leaching bed without troublesome moving met the Korean regulation on compost, indicating that it could be used for soil amendment.

Multi-Step Sequential Batch Two-Phase Anaerobic Composting of Food Waste

This study was conducted to evaluate the newly devised process, called MUlti-step Sequential batch Two-phase Anaerobic Composting (MUSTAC). The MUSTAC process consisted of several leaching beds for hydrolysis, acidification and posttreatment, and a UASB reactor for methane recovery. This process to treat food waste was developed with a high-rate anaerobic composting technique based on the rate-limiting step approach. Rumen microorganisms were inoculated to improve the low efficiency of acidogenic fermentation. Both two-phase anaerobic digestion and sequential batch operation were used to control environmental constraints in anaerobic degradation. The MUSTAC process demonstrated excellent performance as it resulted in a large reduction in volatile solids (VS) (84.7%) and high methane conversion efficiency (84.4%) at high organic loading rates (10.8 kg VS m−3 d−1) in a short SRT (10 days). Methane yield was 0.27 m3 kg−1 VS, while methane gas production rate was 2.27 m3 m−3 d−1. The output from the post-treatment could be used as a soil amendment, which was produced at the same acidogenic fermenter without troublesome moving. The main advantages of the MUSTAC process were simple operation and high efficiency. The MUSTAC process proved stable, reliable and effective in resource recovery as well as waste stabilization.

Aerobic and anaerobic microbial treatment alternatives for shellfish processing wastewaters in continuous culture

AbstractShellfish processing wastewaters were characterized and subjected to laboratory‐scale treatability investigations using continuous flow chemostats operated under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions with and without biological solids recycle. System operation and evaluation employed hydraulic retention time as the controlled variable with substrate removal and biomass production as dependent variables. Additional variables specific to anaerobic operation included total and methane gas production rate and volatile acids generation. Application of a kinetic model incorporating the Monod substrate concentration– growth rate function allowed estimation of kinetic coefficients μmax, kd, Y, and Ks.Aerobic treatment of the wastewaters could be adequately described by the kinetic model presented. However, total efficiencies were notably affected by the inherent morphological differences induced by changing hydraulic flows as reflected by poor solids separation at lower and higher retention times. Anaerobic treatment, although not amenable to kinetic description by the model and data presented, exhibited a limited potential for wastewater stabilization in that soluble substrate removals and methane production occurred at all retention times. Difficulties in successfully describing the system kinetically stemmed from an inability to quantify influent solids liquifaction rates. Moreover, evidence of some substrate associated inhibition of methanogenesis was apparent. Solids recycle tended to reduce the inhibitory influences and to increase treatment efficiencies in both the aerobic and anaerobic processes.