title: Energetic conversion of European semi-natural grassland silages through the integrated generation of solid fuel and biogas from biomass: energy yields and the fate of organic compounds.
abstract: Twelve European habitat types were investigated to determine the influence of the IFBB technique (integrated generation of biogas and solid fuel from biomass) on the fate of organic compounds and energy yields of semi-natural grassland biomass. Concentration of organic compounds in silage and IFBB press cake (PC), mass flows within that system and methane yields of IFBB press fluids (PF) were determined. The gross energy yield of the IFBB technique was calculated in comparison to hay combustion (HC) and whole crop digestion (WCD). The IFBB treatment increased fibre and organic matter (OM) concentrations and lowered non-fibre carbohydrates and crude protein concentrations. The PF was highly digestible irrespective of habitat types, showing mean methane yields between 312.1 and 405.0 LN CH4 kg(-1) VS. Gross energy yields for the IFBB system (9.75-30.19MWh ha(-1)) were in the range of HC, outperformed WCD and were influenced by the habitat type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Grassland Science and Renewable Plant Resources, University of Kassel, Steinstrasse 19, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany. Electronic address: hensgen@uni-kassel.de.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hensgen
authors.affiliation: Department of Grassland Science and Renewable Plant Resources, University of Kassel, Steinstrasse 19, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany.
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bühle
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth SY23 3EB, UK.
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Donnison
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Riia 181, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heinsoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Grassland Science and Renewable Plant Resources, University of Kassel, Steinstrasse 19, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wachendorf
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis*; D018533:Biomass; D017753:Ecosystem; D005060:Europe; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012820:Silage; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D008697:Methane
keywords: ADF; ADL; Bioenergy; Biogas; CF; COD; CP; DM; EE; FM; HC; HHV; IFBB; MF; NDF; NFC; OM; PC; PF; Semi-natural grassland; VS; WCD; XA; a.s.l.; above sea level; acid detergent fibre; acid detergent lignin; chemical oxygen demand; crude ash; crude fibre; crude protein; dry matter; ether extract; fresh matter; hay combustion; higher heating value; integrated generation of solid fuel and biogas from biomass; mass flow; neutral detergent fibre; non fibre carbohydrates; organic matter; press cake; press fluid; volatile solids; whole crop digestion