title: Effect of whey storage on biogas produced by co-digestion of sewage sludge and whey.
abstract: Biogas production from municipal anaerobic digesters could potentially be boosted via co-digestion with organic wastes such as whey. The challenge is that whey production is seasonal. This research examined the effect of storing whey at ambient temperature on: (1) whey composition; (2) biogas production from co-digestion of the stored whey with municipal primary sludge. Whey storage resulted in acidification with formation of acetate, propionate and butyrate and a 9% reduction in total chemical oxygen demand (COD) over the 9-month trial. A control digester fed with primary sludge produced 0.18-0.23 m3 CH4/kgCOD(added). Co-digestion of fresh whey and sludge increased biogas production and the methane contribution from the whey was 0.29 m3CH4/kgCOD(added). When the fresh whey was substituted with stored whey, methane production by the whey remained at 0.29 m3CH4/kgCOD(added). The ability to store whey at ambient temperature and allow co-digestion year round will significantly improve the economics of biogas production from whey.
authors: School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. n.powell@massey.ac.nz
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Powell
authors: School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Broughton
authors: School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Pratt
authors: School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Shilton
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology*; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D055550:Protein Stability; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D013696:Temperature; D000067816:Whey Proteins
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D008894:Milk Proteins; D012722:Sewage; D000067816:Whey Proteins; D008697:Methane