Study of the performance of a thermophilic biological methanation system

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Date
2016-11-18
Authors
Guneratnam, Amita Jacob
Ahern, Eoin
FitzGerald, Jamie A.
Jackson, Stephen A.
Xia, Ao
Dobson, Alan D. W.
Murphy, Jerry D.
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Elsevier
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Abstract
This study investigated the operation of ex-situ biological methanation at two thermophilic temperatures (55 °C and 65 °C). Methane composition of 85–88% was obtained and volumetric productivities of 0.45 and 0.4 L CH4/L reactor were observed at 55 °C and 65 °C after 24 h respectively. It is postulated that at 55 °C the process operated as a mixed culture as the residual organic substrates in the starting inoculum were still available. These were consumed prior to the assessment at 65 °C; thus the methanogens were now dependent on gaseous substrates CO2 and H2. The experiment was repeated at 65 °C with fresh inoculum (a mixed culture); methane composition and volumetric productivity of 92% and 0.46 L CH4/L reactor were achieved in 24 h. Methanothermobacter species represent likely and resilient candidates for thermophilic biogas upgrading.
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Keywords
Biogas , Power to gas , Biological methanation , Methanogenic archaea , Volatile fatty acids
Citation
Guneratnam, A. J., Ahern, E., FitzGerald, J. A., Jackson, S. A., Xia, A., Dobson, A. D. W. and Murphy, J. D. (2017) 'Study of the performance of a thermophilic biological methanation system', Bioresource Technology, 225, pp. 308-315. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.11.066