Using A Novel Continuous Bioreactor In Enhancing The Biogas Production

Abstract

Background: Since fossil fuels are limited and their burning is considered the main reason for environmental pollution, thinkers in the energy section are looking for a substitute for them. They have considered biogas as a potent replacement. Constant composition and volumetric rate, are ones of the challenges faced in term of using biogas. Therefore, in this study, a novel easily portable continuous bioreactor was designed and constructed to produce biogas at constant composition and volumetric rate, which is suitable for human uses. Sugar beet waste and anaerobic sludge were used as substrate and inoculum with an S/I ratio of 0.5 to 1, to produce biogas. Four parameters, i.e., hydraulic retention time (HRT), pH, biogas volume, and methane composition, were measured and compared.Results: The results of the mentioned reactor were compared with those of batch ones. The measurement revealed that the continuous reactor had a good performance on biogas purity and volumetric rate. The biogas contained about 53% methane. The suitable and preferable HRT and organic loading rate (OLR) were 18 days and 34.86 g VS/day. After the 18th day of operation, the biogas production process inside the continuous reactor was stable reaching about 411.2 ml STD/g VS per day.Conclusions: The reactor designed makes the biogas production process more manageable. Besides the production of the cumulative volume of biogas and constant methane percentage was achieved. As a result, the biogas produced is consumed daily, and a certain amount of gas is available every day. Since the percentage of gas produced is constant, it is possible to adjust the gas appliances with this amount of methane.