Prediction of hydrogen sulphide production during anaerobic digestion of organic substrates

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 121; pp. 419 - 424
• Main Authors: Peu, Pascal, Picard, Sylvie, Diara, Arnaud, Girault, Romain, Béline, Fabrice, Bridoux, Gilbert, Dabert, Patrick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anaerobic digestion; Bacteria, Anaerobic - metabolism; Biofuels - analysis; Biogas; Bioreactors; Carbon - analysis; Environmental Sciences; Feedstock; France; Hydrogen Sulfide - analysis; Hydrogen Sulfide - metabolism; Hydrogen sulphide; Models, Biological; Sewage - analysis; Sulfur; Sulphur; Waste Products - analysis; France; Hydrogen sulphide; Feedstock; Biogas; Sulphur; Anaerobic digestion; SULFURE D'HYDROGENE; MATIERE PREMIERE; SULFURE
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.06.112

► Feedstock used in anaerobic digesters could generate a high level of hydrogen sulphide into the biogas. ► Sulphur content of feedstock is variable with a low level for most of them. ► Hydrogen sulphide biogas content could be predicted with only feedstock analyses. ► Feedstock with carbon:sulphur ratio under 40 present a risk for their use in anaerobic digestion. The main objective of this study was to develop a methodology to predict the hydrogen sulphide content of raw biogas produced during anaerobic mono-digestion of a bioenergy feedstock. Detailed chemical and biological analyses were made on 37 different feedstocks originating from urban wastewater treatment plants, farms, agri-food facilities and municipal wastes. Total sulphur content ranged from 1 to 29.6mgS/kg of total solids, and 66% of the feedstocks analysed contained less than 5mgS/kg of total solids. The biochemical methanogenic potential and biochemical biogas potential of each feedstock combined with its S content were used to predict appearance of H2S in the raw biogas. A model to link H2S in biogas with the carbon:sulphur ratio was established. Based on this model, a minimum carbon:sulphur ratio of 40 is required in feedstock to limit the concentration of hydrogen sulphide in raw biogas to less than 2% (volume/volume).