title: Press fluid pre-treatment optimisation of the integrated generation of solid fuel and biogas from biomass (IFBB) process approach.
abstract: The integrated generation of solid fuel and biogas from biomass (IFBB) system is an innovative approach to maximising energy conversion from low input high diversity (LIHD) biomass. In this system water pre-treated and ensiled LIHD biomass is pressed. The press fluid is anaerobically digested to produce methane that is used to power the process. The fibrous fraction is densified and then sold as a combustion fuel. Two process options designed to concentrate the press fluid were assessed to ascertain their influence on productivity in an IFBB like system: sedimentation and the omission of pre-treatment water. By concentrating press fluid and not adding water during processing, energy production from methane was increased by 75% per unit time and solid fuel productivity increased by 80% per unit of fluid produced. The additional energy requirements for pressing more biomass in order to generate equal volumes of feedstock were accounted for in these calculations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EB, UK. Electronic address: jcc@aber.ac.uk.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corton
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EB, UK.
authors.forename: Trisha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toop
authors.affiliation: AMW Arboreal Ltd., 67 Avonbrae Crescent, Hamilton, Lanarkshire ML3 7PH, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EB, UK.
authors.forename: Iain S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Donnison
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EB, UK.
authors.forename: Mariecia D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006109:Poaceae / Q000187:drug effects; D012820:Silage; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014866:Waste Products; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D014866:Waste Products; D014867:Water; D008697:Methane
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Bioenergy; Low input high diversity; Process optimization; Screw press