Biomethane production from maize and liquid cow manure – Effect of share of maize, post-methanation potential and digestate characteristics

Abstract This study investigates the co-digestion of liquid cow manure and maize with different share of maize in continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs). The objective was to determine the methane yield of reactor and the post-methanation potential of the digestate from different reactor trials. The highest specific methane yield (259 Nl CH 4 /kg volatile solids (VSs)) was obtained when the share of maize in the feedstock was 40% (VS) and the second highest specific methane yield was when the proportion of maize was 60% (VS) (234 Nl CH 4 /kg VS). The post-methanation potential of the digestate was determined in batch assays. The minimum value (maize 40%, 75 ± 1 Nl CH 4 /kg VS feed ) occ…

Biogas production from boreal herbaceous grasses – Specific methane yield and methane yield per hectare

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the specific methane yields of four grass species (cocksfoot, tall fescue, reed canary grass and timothy) cultivated under boreal conditions as well as how harvesting time and year of cultivation affects the specific methane yields per ha. The specific methane yields of all grasses and all harvests varied from 253 to 394 Nl CH4/kg volatile solids (VS) added. The average specific methane yield of the 1st harvest of all grasses was higher than the 2nd harvests. In this study the methane and energy yields from different harvest years were ranged from 1200 to 3600 Nm3 CH4/ha/a, corresponding from 12 to 36 MWh CH 4 /ha/a. The methane yield pe…

Biogas production from high-yielding energy crops in boreal conditions

Methane production from maize in Finland – Screening for different maize varieties and plant parts

Abstract The objective of the study was to determine how the harvest time and maize variety (12 varieties) affects the methane yield and dry matter yield per hectare in southern Finland (Piikkio) and in Central Finland (Laukaa). The specific methane yields and methane yields per hectare were also determined for different plant parts (stem, leaves and cobs). The methane yield per hectare varied from 2130 to 9170 m 3  ha −1 . The methane yields per hectare were ∼50% lower in Laukaa than in Piikkio due to a shorter growing season and lower total solid (TS) yields. TS yields were on average 16.7 and 15.5 Mg ha −1 in Piikkio and 8.7 and 6.8 Mg ha −1 in Laukaa in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The …

Organic silicon compounds in biogases produced from grass silage, grass and maize in laboratory batch assays

Abstract In the present study the occurrence of volatile organic silicon compounds in biogas produced from grass silage, grass and maize in laboratory batch assays was analyzed and methane potentials were determined. Inoculum from a mesophilic farm digester was used, and its effects were subtracted. Methane yields from grass silage, grass and maize were 0.38, 0.42 and 0.34 m3CH4/kg – volatile solids added (VSadd), respectively. Trimethyl silanol, hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3), octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) were detected from all the biogases. Higher yields of volatile organic silicon compounds in the grass (from 21.8 to 37.6 μg/kgVSadd) were detec…

Biogas from energy crops--optimal pre-treatments and storage, co-digestion and energy balance in boreal conditions.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the biogas production from crops in boreal conditions, focusing on the optimal pre-treatment and storage methods, co-digestion and energy balance of farm-scale crop based biogas plants. Alkaline treatments offered some potential for improving the methane yield from grass and sugar beet tops. The results show that the CH4 yield of energy crops can be maintained by appropriate ensiling conditions for even after 11 months in ambient conditions. The CH4 yield was best preserved with wet grass mixture without additives. Co-digestion of manure and crops was shown to be feasible with feedstock volatile solids (VS) containing up to 40% of crops. The hi…

Screening of novel plants for biogas production in northern conditions.

Abstract The objective of this study was to screen nine annual or perennial novel plants for biogas production cultivated in years 2007–2010 in Finland. The most promising novel plants for biogas production were found to be brown knapweed, giant goldenrod and Japanese millet producing 14–27 t total solids/ha and 4000–6100 Nm 3  CH 4 /ha. The specific methane yields of all studied plants varied from 170 to 381 Nm 3  CH 4 /t volatile solids (VS), depending on harvest time and plant species. Co-digestion of brown knapweed with cow manure in continuously stirred tank reactor was investigated and the highest methane yield was 254 NL CH 4 /kg VS, when the share of brown knapweed was 50% in the fe…