title: Steam explosion pretreatment of wheat straw to improve methane yields: investigation of the degradation kinetics of structural compounds during anaerobic digestion.
abstract: Wheat straw can serve as a low-cost substrate for energy production without competing with food or feed production. This study investigated the effect of steam explosion pretreatment on the biological methane potential and the degradation kinetics of wheat straw during anaerobic digestion. It was observed that the biological methane potential of the non steam exploded, ground wheat straw (276 l(N) kg VS(-1)) did not significantly differ from the best steam explosion treated sample (286 l(N) kg VS(-1)) which was achieved at a pretreatment temperature of 140°C and a retention time of 60 min. Nevertheless degradation speed was improved by the pretreatment. Furthermore it was observed that compounds resulting from chemical reactions during the pretreatment and classified as pseudo-lignin were also degraded during the anaerobic batch experiments. Based on the rumen simulation technique, a model was developed to characterise the degradation process.
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Theuretzbacher
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria; alpS - Centre for Climate Change Adaptation, Grabenweg 68, A-6010 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lizasoain
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lefever
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Molly K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Saylor
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Enguidanos
authors.affiliation: Biogas Systems GmbH, Am Futterplatz 3106, 7111 Parndorf, Austria.
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weran
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gronauer
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria. Electronic address: alexander.bauer@boku.ac.at.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis; D018533:Biomass; D007700:Kinetics; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012995:Solubility; D013227:Steam; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D013227:Steam; D014867:Water; D008697:Methane
keywords: Bioenergy; Biogas; Degradation process; Lignocellulose; Pseudo-lignin