Details

Title:

Comparison of Mesophilic and Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Sugar Beet Pulp: Digestion, Performance, Dewaterability, and Foam Control

Author(s):

Suhartini, S., Heaven, S., Banks, C.J.

Document(s):

Abstract:

Thermophilic and mesophilic digestion of sugar beet pulp (SBP) were assessed in relation to the biogas and methane production, foaming potential, and dewaterability of the digestate. Experiments were carried out in 4­litre working volume digesters. Four digesters were operated mesophilically (37oC ± 0.5) and four thermophilically (55oC +/­0.5) over a period of three hydraulic retention times (HRT). Pairs of digesters were fed daily on SBP ­1 ­1 without dilution to give organic loading rates (OLR) of 4 and 5 g volatile solids lday. Trace elements (TE) were supplemented to ensure no deficiencies occurred, and the digesters were monitored for a range of performance efficiency and stability indicators including specific and volumetric methane production, volatile solids destruction, alkalinity ratio and volatile fatty acids. Dewaterability was assessed using capillary suction time (CST) and frozen image centrifugation (FIC). The occurrence, or potential, for digestate stable foam was assessed using a foaming test. It was concluded that a thermophilic system was more suitable for the anaerobic digestion of sugar beet pulp as this allowed higher loadings to be applied without loss of performance, and gave a digestate with superior dewatering characteristics and very little potential for foaming.

Keywords:

anaerobic digestion, biogas, digestate, sugar beet pulp, dewatering, foam formation

Topic:

R&D on Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Electricity and Chemicals

Subtopic:

Anaerobic digestion for biogas production

Event:

21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

2DO.7.5

Pages:

734 - 740

ISBN:

978-88-89407-53-0

Paper DOI:

10.5071/21stEUBCE2013-2DO.7.5

Price:

FREE