Co-digestion of poultry manure and residues from enzymatic saccharification and dewatering of sugar beet pulp

• Published in: Renewable energy Vol. 99; pp. 492 - 500
• Main Authors: Borowski, Sebastian, Kucner, Marcin, Czyżowska, Agata, Berłowska, Joanna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2016
• Subjects: Anaerobic digestion; Biogas; Poultry manure; Sugar beet pulp residues; Sugar beet pulp residues; Biogas; Poultry manure; Anaerobic digestion
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2016.07.046

This study investigates the co-digestion of poultry manure (PM) with sugar beet pulp residues (SBPR) obtained from saccharification and dewatering of sugar beet pulp. The laboratory-scale experiments were conducted under batch and semi-continuous conditions at mesophilic temperatures (35 °C). Batch tests gave specific biogas and methane yields of 590 dm3/kgVSfed and 423 dm3CH4/kgVSfed, respectively for SBPR, whereas the corresponding values for PM were 434 dm3/kgVSfed and 300 dm3CH4/kgVSfed. The co-digestion of PM with SBPR was found to increase biogas and methane yields compared to the manure alone. In semi-continuous reactor experiments, the highest methane yield of 346 dm3 CH4/kgVSfed was achieved for the mixture containing poultry manure with 50% SBPR (weight basis) and a solids retention time (SRT) of 20 days. However, when poultry manure was digested as a sole feedstock, the biogas production was inhibited by ammonia, whereas the co-digestion of PM with 25% SBPR was slightly affected by volatile fatty acids, which concentrations exceeded 4000 g/m3. •Co-digestion of sugar beet pulp residues (SBPR) with poultry manure (PM) was studied.•PM co-digested with 50% SBPR gave the highest methane production of 346 dm3/kgVS.•Ammonia concentration greater than 200 g/m3 was inhibitory for PM mono-digestion.•Co-digestion of PM with 25% SBPR was slightly affected by volatile fatty acids.