Monitoring and optimizing biogas production from animal manure and energy crops

The PhD study shall include research in precision control and monitoring of the biogas process, including optimization the biogas production and assessment of the most important process inhibitors. Furthermore new innovative biogas concepts like serial connection of digesters and digestion of energy crops will be included. The PhD study is a part of 2 research projects: Precise regulation and monitoring of the biogas process funded by the Energy research program and Multifunctional energy production in organic farming. The study should include: Online monitoring of process parameters (VFA, SH2, NH3, pH, temperature etc.) Utilization of alternative biomasses like energy crops Furthermore the study might include: Inhibitory and synergic effects Seriel coupling of digesters Pre-treatment and process stimulatory additives Background Energy produced on biogas plants is an environmentally sound renewable energy source. In the future the energy potential of waste should be exploited more efficiently. Anaerobic fermentation and CH4 production is a complex process carried out by well-organized community of several microbial populations. Some of the microbial groups involved are slow-growing and sensitive to changes in operating conditions. This will cause instability in fermentation during both the start-up phase and at steady state operation of the fermentation of biomass in biogas plants. The biogas process will be more commercial attractive, if the risk for instability has been overcome through optimization of the process. There is room for optimization by improving operation conditions and eliminate factors limiting metabolism of the CH4 producing the microorganisms, this may include more efficient process designs, like serial coupling of digesters.

Method The PhD study might encompass some of the following sub-projects: I. Online monitoring of the biogas process II. Assessment of inhibitory and synergetic effects III. New process designs IV. Use of energy crops Online monitoring of the biogas process Although much has been done to improve process design most anaerobic digesters are poorly monitored. Therefore the strategy for avoiding mismanagement is to operate far below the maximum capacity of the reactor, thereby reducing the risk for overloading. A better strategy is to monitor and control the process precisely. Until now most research has been directed towards identifying parameters which may be used to monitor the process and give a warning of reactor instability. Some of the more commonly used indicators include periodic measurements pH, alkalinity, volatile fatty acids (VFA), gas production rate and gas composition. Innovative on-line monitoring will be developed and implemented, especially VFA analysis. The sensors developed will be tested in 4 pilot digesters and the efficiency will be tested during shock load and increasing doses of inhibitory components

Assessment of inhibitory and synergetic effects NH3, H2S and VFA is the most well known inhibitors. The toxicity of NH3, H2S and VFA is pH dependent since only the nonionised forms exhibit microbial toxicity. Methanogens are commonly considered to be the most sensitive to toxicity of all the microorganisms in anaerobic degradation. During pilot scale reactor experiments the influence of several inhibitors and the combination of temperature and pH will be monitored. Much higher concentrations of inhibitors can be tolerated if the culture has undergone gradual adaptation, thus the abilities for adaptation will be studied. New process designs New and improved process designs include systems for the separation of the acidogenic and methanogenic phases to optimize the conditions for the various bacteria. This can be achieved by coupling two or more digesters in series. During pilot scale reactor experiments the digestion of biomass in serial coupled digesters will be studied. Several parameters will be monitored like biogas production, methane content, process state indicators (VFA, pH, alkalinity). Use of energy crops Energy potential in crops in rotation and grass from meadows will be studied in batch tests. Furthermore, the improving the gas production through pre-treatments as thermal hydrolysis yield may be studied. The biomasses will be chemically characterized. Content of total solids, volatile solids, composition of organic matter (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids), nitrogen and ammonia level will be measured. Biodegradability and biogas potential of the biomasses will be determined in batch experiments. The following biomasses will be tested: a. Clover grass from rotation in relation to harvest stategy, storing strategy etc. b. Grass from meadows from in relation to harvest strategy, fertilizing level etc. c. High yield crops as corn, sunflower etc. Selected biomasses, will be tested in pilot scale reactors. The following processes will be studied: a. Only clover grass b. Varying supply of energy crops reflecting the annual variation c. Concepts with a mixture of energy crops and manure During the pilot scale reactor experiments several parameters will be monitored like biogas production, methane content, process state indicators (VFA, pH, alkalinity) and nutrient availability (nitrogen and ammonium) in the digested product.