title: Performance of a novel two-phase continuously fed leach bed reactor for demand-based biogas production from maize silage.
abstract: This study investigated the potential of producing biogas on demand from maize silage using a novel two-phase continuously fed leach bed reactor (LBR) which is connected to an anaerobic filter (AF). Six different feeding patterns, each for 1week, were studied at a weekly average of a volatile solids (VS) loading rate of 4.5 g L(-1) d(-1) and a temperature of 38°C. Methane production from the LBR and AF responded directly proportional to the VS load from the different daily feeding and resulted in an increase up to 50-60% per day, compared to constant feeding each day. The feeding patterns had no impact on VS methane yield which corresponded on average to 330 L kg(-1). In spite of some daily shock loadings, carried out during the different feeding patterns study, the reactor performance was not affected. A robust and reliable biogas production from stalky biomass was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department Bioengineering, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany. Electronic address: blinke@atb-potsdam.de.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Linke
authors.affiliation: EnergyLab, Edificio CITEXVI - Local 1, Fonte das Abelleiras, s/n, Campus Universitario de Vigo, E-36310 Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: Ángela
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Abalde
authors.affiliation: Department Bioengineering, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jost
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Science and Arts, Holzminden/Hildesheim/Göttingen, Rudolf-Diesel-Straße 12, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krieg
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D056804:Biofuels; D019149:Bioreactors; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012820:Silage; D013997:Time Factors; D014835:Volatilization; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008697:Methane
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Biogas on-demand; Energy crops; Solid state; Two-phase digester