Online monitoring of stable carbon isotopes of methane in anaerobic digestion as a new tool for early warning of process instability.
Effective control of anaerobic digestion in biogas plants requires the monitoring of process sensitive and rapid response parameters in order to ensure efficient biogas production and to prevent potential process failure. In this study, stable carbon isotopes of methane (δ(13)CCH4) produced in a full-scale continuous stirred-tank reactor were investigated as a potential new monitoring tool for this purpose. Over a six-month period with variable organic loading rates, δ(13)CCH4-values were measured online by a portable high-precision laser absorption spectrometer. During a stress period of consecutive high organic loading, δ(13)CCH4-values early indicated process changes in contrast to traditionally monitored parameters where a change was observed some five to ten days later. Comparison of the stable isotope values with data from microbial analyses showed a distinct relationship between the quantity of potentially acetoclastic methanogens and δ(13)CCH4-values. This finding indicates an association between dominant methanogenic pathways and carbon isotope values.
Institute of Earth Sciences, Im Neuenheimer Feld 236, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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D
Polag
Institute of Microbiology and Wine Research, Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 15, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.
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T
May
Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum, Torgauer St. 116, D-04347 Leipzig, Germany.
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L
Müller
Institute of Microbiology and Wine Research, Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 15, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.
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H
König
Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum, Torgauer St. 116, D-04347 Leipzig, Germany.
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F
Jacobi
Institute of Earth Sciences, Im Neuenheimer Feld 236, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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Laukenmann
Institute of Earth Sciences, Im Neuenheimer Feld 236, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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F
Keppler
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D056804:Biofuels; D019149:Bioreactors; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D019605:Euryarchaeota / Q000378:metabolism; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D056804:Biofuels; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002244:Carbon; D008697:Methane
Anaerobic digestion; Laser absorption spectroscopy; Process monitoring; Stable carbon isotopes