title: Laboratory method for high-solids countercurrent fermentations.
abstract: Equipment and procedures were developed to study the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to carboxylic acids using high-solids countercurrent fermentations. Countercurrent fermentations of cattle manure yielded a rapid fermentation (maximum 2.98 g of total acid/[L x d]) with high acid concentrations (maximum of 32.5 g of total acid/L), but the acid yield tended to be low (maximum of 0.24 g of total acid/g of volatile solids). Countercurrent fermentations of a mixture of 80% municipal solid waste/20% sewage sludge fermented more slowly (maximum of 1.98 g of total acid/[L x d]) with a lower acid concentration (maximum of 26.5 g of total acids/L), but higher acid yields were achieved (maximum of 0.34 g of total acid/g of volatile solids).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-3122, USA.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Holtzapple
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008372:Manure; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D008372:Manure; D012722:Sewage; C036909:lignocellulose; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin