title: The effect of seasonal variation on biomethane production from seaweed and on application as a gaseous transport biofuel.
abstract: Biomethane produced from seaweed may be used as a transport biofuel. Seasonal variation will have an effect on this industry. Laminaria digitata, a typical Irish brown seaweed species, shows significant seasonal variation both in proximate, ultimate and biochemical composition. The characteristics in August were optimal with the lowest level of ash (20% of volatile solids), a C:N ratio of 32 and the highest specific methane yield measured at 327LCH4kgVS(-1), which was 72% of theoretical yield. The highest yield per mass collected of 53m(3)CH4t(-1) was achieved in August, which is 4.5 times higher than the lowest value, obtained in December. A seaweed cultivation area of 11,800ha would be required to satisfy the 2020 target for advanced biofuels in Ireland, of 1.25% renewable energy supply in transport (RES-T) based on the optimal gross energy yield obtained in August (200GJha(-1)yr(-1)).
authors.affiliation: MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Muhammad Rizwan
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tabassum
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China. Electronic address: aoxia@cqu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; School of Engineering, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jerry D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D007494:Ireland; D007795:Laminaria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D008697:Methane
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Biogas; Gaseous transport biofuel; Seasonal variation; Seaweed