title: Study of the performance of a thermophilic biological methanation system.
abstract: This study investigated the operation of ex-situ biological methanation at two thermophilic temperatures (55°C and 65°C). Methane composition of 85-88% was obtained and volumetric productivities of 0.45 and 0.4LCH4/Lreactor were observed at 55°C and 65°C after 24h respectively. It is postulated that at 55°C the process operated as a mixed culture as the residual organic substrates in the starting inoculum were still available. These were consumed prior to the assessment at 65°C; thus the methanogens were now dependent on gaseous substrates CO2and H2. The experiment was repeated at 65°C with fresh inoculum (a mixed culture); methane composition and volumetric productivity of 92% and 0.46LCH4/Lreactor were achieved in 24h. Methanothermobacter species represent likely and resilient candidates for thermophilic biogas upgrading.
authors.affiliation: The MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Amita Jacob
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Guneratnam
authors.affiliation: The MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Eoin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ahern
authors.affiliation: The MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Ireland; School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jamie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: FitzGerald
authors.affiliation: School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilisation Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
authors.forename: Ao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Alan D W
authors.initials: ADW
authors.lastname: Dobson
authors.affiliation: The MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Ireland; School of Engineering, University College Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: jerry.murphy@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Jerry D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D019149:Bioreactors; D019605:Euryarchaeota / Q000378:metabolism*; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D008697:Methane
keywords: Biogas; Biological methanation; Methanogenic archaea; Power to gas; Volatile fatty acids