Differing Effects of Glycerin on Anaerobic Co-digestion of Mixed Substrates in Bench-Scale Assays and Sub Pilot-Scale Reactors

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2011-08-01
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Sell, Steven
Raman, D. Raj
Burns, Robert
Anex, Robert
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Raman, D. Raj
Morrill Professor
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Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Abstract

Bench-scale methods such as Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) assays and Anaerobic Toxicity Assays (ATAs) are useful tools in evaluating potential feedstocks for anaerobic digestion. The BMP method provides a preliminary indication of substrate biodegradability and methane production, while the ATAs provide an indication of substrate toxicity to anaerobic microbial consortia. Previous research using small (<20 >L) reactors indicated that co-digestion of manures with small amounts of glycerin (ca. 1 – 2 %) can double methane production, but toxicity can result if glycerin exceeds 2% (volumetric basis). This paper investigated the relationship between bench-scale methods (BMPs and ATAs) and sub pilot-scale digester results, using glycerin as a test substrate mixed with a baseline feedstock (beef manure, corn processing wastewater, lagoon liquid, and short-fiber cardboard). The batch-fed, stirred ATAs indicated that glycerin was toxic to methane production at all inclusion levels. The batch-fed, stirred BMPs indicated no significant difference between methane production in the 0.0%to 4.0% addition levels; however at 8.0% addition, methane production tripled. The continuously fed, non-stirred, plug-flow sub pilot-scale reactors indicated toxicity effects in the 2.0% and 4.0% glycerin mixtures and no difference from the control in the 1.0% glycerin mixture. These results demonstrate the variations in scale performance of glycerin as a co-substrate and identify some serious challenges in extrapolating bench-scale assays to large-scale performance of mixed-waste anaerobic digestion systems.

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This is an ASABE Meeting Presentation, Paper No. 1111519.

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Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2011