Performance of a novel two-phase continuously fed leach bed reactor for demand-based biogas production from maize silage. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Linke, Bernd; Rodríguez-Abalde, Ángela; Jost, Carsten; Krieg, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 177(2015)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 40
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Anaerobic digestion -- Solid state -- Biogas on-demand -- Two-phase digester -- Energy crops; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.11.070
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: High performance novel two-phase continuously fed leach bed reactor (LBR). Prevention of digester failure by combination of LBR with anaerobic filter. Gentle mixing and high biomass concentration by means of a floating bed. Demand-driven methane production directly from the digester. Increase of methane production of 50–60% per day compared to constant feeding. Abstract: This study investigated the potential of producing biogas on demand from maize silage using a novel two-phase continuously fed leach bed reactor (LBR) which is connected to an anaerobic filter (AF). Six different feeding patterns, each for 1 week, were studied at a weekly average of a volatile solids (VS) loading rate of 4.5 g L −1 d −1 and a temperature of 38 °C. Methane production from the LBR and AF responded directly proportional to the VS load from the different daily feeding and resulted in an increase up to 50–60% per day, compared to constant feeding each day. The feeding patterns had no impact on VS methane yield which corresponded on average to 330 L kg −1 . In spite of some daily shock loadings, carried out during the different feeding patterns study, the reactor performance was not affected. A robust and reliable biogas production from stalky biomass was demonstrated.