Biogas production rate is an important criterion for the entire biogas production process. In the present study the biogas production rate was evaluated using more than 30 process variables measured at an agricultural biogas plant in Germany during two months. The measured variables include the chemical measurements (such as pH, dried matter, amount of organic acids), energy supply specificatio...

Biogas plants are the most complex systems and are heavily studied in the field of renewable energy. A biogas system is mainly influenced by biological and technical parameters that strongly interact with each other. One recommended practice when operating a biogas plant is the recirculation of the substrate from the second fermenter into the first fermenter, which extends the recirculation amo...

Biogas is widely available as a product of anaerobic digestion of urban, industrial, animal and agricultural wastes. Its indigenous local-base production offers the promise of a dispersed renewable energy source that can significantly contribute to regional economic growth. Biogas composition typically consists of 35–75% methane, 25–65% carbon dioxide, 1–5% hydrogen along with minor quantities ...

Lignocelluloses are often a major or sometimes the sole components of different waste streams from various industries, forestry, agriculture and municipalities. Hydrolysis of these materials is the first step for either digestion to biogas (methane) or fermentation to ethanol. However, enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocelluloses with no pre-treatment is usually not so effective because of high stab...

Biogas production represents a fascinating process for the recovery of nutrients and renewable energy from various organic waste streams. The process is of interest for the production of value-added chemicals by mixed cultures and can also be applied in combined bioenergy production systems. Strategies and opportunities for optimization of biogas quality and quantity are presented.

To meet the increasing need for bioenergy several raw materials have to be considered for the production of e.g. bioethanol and biogas. In this study, three lignocellulosic raw materials were studied, i.e. (1) winter rye straw (Secale cereale L), (2) oilseed rape straw (Brassica napus L.) and (3) faba bean straw (Viciafaba L.). Their composition with regard to cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, ...

Studies are presented on new types of anaerobic digesters in which chopped or dry crushed Ipomoea carnea was fed without any other pretreatment, in an attempt to develop commercially viable means of utilizing the otherwise very harmful plant. Two types of solid-feed anaerobic digesters (SFADs) were studied. The first type had a single vessel in which the bottom 35% portion was separated from th...

Background: Within the last decade, the biogas branch has become an important economic sector in Germany. Many arguments are used to support a further and rapid expansion of local biogas plants in both quantity and capacity. They are centered on the potential of biogas plants for supporting rural sustainable development processes. On the other side, the national biogas praxis is accompanied by ...