Comparison of Methane Production from Bench- and Sub Pilot-Scale Anaerobic Digesters
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Since 1905, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, now the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), has been a leader in providing engineering solutions to agricultural problems in the United States and the world. The department’s original mission was to mechanize agriculture. That mission has evolved to encompass a global view of the entire food production system–the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling, and use of food fiber and other biological products.
History
In 1905 Agricultural Engineering was recognized as a subdivision of the Department of Agronomy, and in 1907 it was recognized as a unique department. It was renamed the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in 1990. The department merged with the Department of Industrial Education and Technology in 2004.
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1905–present
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- Department of Agricultural Engineering (1907–1990)
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- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (parent college)
- College of Engineering (parent college)
- Department of Industrial Education and Technology, (merged, 2004)
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Abstract
Design and construction of full-scale anaerobic digesters that co-digest manure with other substrates, such as food processing wastes, is challenging because of the large number of potential mixtures that can be fed to the digester. In this work we examine the relationship between results from bench-scale methods such as biochemical methane potential assays (BMPs) and sub pilot-scale reactors. The baseline feedstock for this study was beef manure from concrete feedlot pens (open and covered) in eastern Iowa. Additional co-digestion substrates tested were short-fiber cardboard, corn processing wastewater, enzyme processing wastewater and lagoon liquid. Substrates were characterized for total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, alkalinity, and ammonia, after which BMPs were conducted on all substrates. Based on the BMP and anaerobic toxicity assay (ATA) results, a mixture was created and evaluated using BMPs and tested in 100-L sub pilot-scale reactors. This study showed that results from BMPs of feedstock co-digestion mixtures accurately estimated the range of methane produced from three 100-L, plug flow reactors.
Comments
This article is from Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 27, no. 5 (2011): 821–825.