Biogas production with horse dung in solid-phase digestion systems

Abstract

Experiments on methanogenesis from horse dung were conducted in laboratory-scale batch reactors in order to determine the substrate performance in a solid-phase digestion process, more specifically in terms of potential energy recovery and suitable process technology. Dung from a horse stable with straw bedding was used. The temperature was kept in the mesophilic range. In the percolation process (with process water sprinkled over the stacked biomass) a proportion of 10-20% of solid inoculum (pre-digested horse dung) was found to be suitable. Comparative experiments with both percolation and flooding revealed a higher biogas production per volume for the flooded process, as no addition of solid inoculum was necessary. Methane yield from fresh material was similar in both processes: around 170 L(N) CH(4) per kg VS added was obtained in six-week cycles with untreated material under optimized conditions. Methane production was increased after chopping the substrate. Pre-aeration resulted in decreased methane production.

Influence of Sewage Sludge and Leachate on Biochemical Methane Potential of Waste Biomass

“…Samples were obtained in liquid (or semi liquid) state and were preserved at 37°C. The leachate was filtered through Whatman 0.45 μm cellulose nitrate membrane filter paper before analysis and subsequent use in the assays [15]. Moisture, biodegradable VSs (sugars and hemicellulose), cellulose…”

“…VS amendments like dung manure, domestic sewage sludge (SS) and leachate could enhance the reactions. However, SS and leachate were more potent in improving the BMP [14,15]. The objective of this study was to determine the BMP of vegetable wastes, food wastes, cellulosic wastes and municipal solid wastes (hereinafter referred to as the substrates) under laboratory conditions with two different amendments (SS and leachate).…”

Energy Generation from Horse Husbandry Residues by Anaerobic Digestion, Combustion, and an Integrated Approach

“…In contrast, aeration did not enhance the methane yield in an experiment with a mixture of horse faeces and spent straw (without aeration: max. 192 l N ·kg −1 VS, with aeration: 140 l N ·kg −1 VS) [9]. Equine urine contains about 7% organic matter [32], which might be available for digestion.…”

“…In recent years, anaerobic digestion of horse manure was well-investigated, focusing on solid-state reactors. Kusch et al [9] achieved maximum methane yields from faeces with spent straw bedding of about 200 l N ·(standard litres)·kg −1 volatile solids (VS), testing different digestion times, inoculum shares, and reactor management strategies. Böske et al [10] measured maximum methane yields of 235 l N ·kg −1 VS from manure in a straw mixture, in an upflow anaerobic solid-state process.…”

Impact of Organic Loading Rate on Psychrophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Solid Dairy Manure

“…Avoiding dilution of cow manure fed to anaerobic digestion (AD) is an important engineering design objective. In this context, dry anaerobic digestion (DAD) of high-solids agricultural wastes is a relatively new biotechnology, which could be adapted to digest undiluted cow manure [8][9][10]. Compared to WAD, DAD offers significant reduction in bioreactor volume [11].…”