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Electrolysis‐enhanced co‐digestion of switchgrass and cow manure
Author(s) -
Tartakovsky Boris,
Mehta Punita,
Santoyo Guido,
Roy Caroline,
Frigon JeanClaude,
Guiot Serge R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.4224
Subject(s) - anaerobic digestion , biogas , pulp and paper industry , continuous stirred tank reactor , methane , cow dung , manure , aerobic digestion , electrolysis , chemistry , waste management , organic matter , chemical oxygen demand , biofuel , environmental science , fertilizer , agronomy , environmental engineering , sewage treatment , engineering , organic chemistry , electrolyte , biology , electrode
BACKGROUND Anaerobic digestion of agricultural wastes is a cost effective way for combining resource recovery and methane production. This paper evaluates the co‐digestion of cow manure and switchgrass in a completely stirred tank reactor ( CSTR ) by the electrolysis‐enhanced anaerobic digestion ( eAD ) process. RESULTS The electrodes for water electrolysis were installed directly in an anaerobic digester and were used to create micro‐aerobic conditions. Significant gains in process performance and biogas quality were obtained at current densities of 20–25 mAL R ‐ 1(per digester volume) with a corresponding volumetric energy consumption of 0.07–0.08 WhL R ‐ 1. In particular, the COD removal rate was increased from 0.6 to 0.9 g CODL R ‐ 1d ‐1 , methane production increased by 26%, and H 2 S content in the biogas declined from 2500–3000 ppm to less than 10 ppm. CONCLUSIONS The improved performance was achieved due to methane production from hydrolytic H 2 and possibly due to the enhanced hydrolysis of organic matter. © 2013 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry