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Presentation
Evaluation of Effects of Ultrasonic Pretreatment on Biogas Production Potential from Corn Ethanol By-products
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Conference Proceedings and Presentations
  • Wei Wu-Haan, Iowa State University
  • Robert T. Burns, Iowa State University
  • Cody John Hearn, Iowa State University
  • David A. Grewell, Iowa State University
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Conference
2008 ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Date
6-1-2008
Geolocation
(41.8239891, -71.4128343)
Abstract

This paper reviews the biochemical methane potential (BMP) production from anaerobic digestion of corn-ethanol by-products including dried distiller grain with solubles (DDGS), centrifuge solids, thin stillage, and corn-syrup as well as evaluating the effects of ultrasonic pretreatment on biogas production from these feedstocks. Ultrasonic pretreatment was applied with three amplitude settings of 33% (52.8 µm pp ), 66% (105.6 µm pp ), and 100% (160 µm pp ) as well as five time settings of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 seconds, respectively, to each of the four by-products before setting up a bench top BMP trial. Biogas production was measured and analyzed for methane content and accumulated methane production. Without ultrasound pretreatment, corn-syrup had the highest methane production potential (408 ml/g VS added) compare to the other by-products. Methane production was increased by 25 and 12% for the ultrasound pretreated DDGs samples and solids samples, respectively, compared with untreated samples. The ultrasonic pretreatment of ethanol co-products was shown to increase methane production from the anaerobic digestion of these products. The ultrasonic pre-treatment of solids co-products (DDGS and centrifuge solids) was far more effective than on liquid co-products (syrup and thin stillage). An energy balance showed that ultrasonic pretreatment of DDGS provided 70% more energy than was required to operate the ultrasonic unit. An energy balance for other co-products however, indicated that the ultrasonic pre-treatment required more energy than was generated by the process in terms of additional biogas production.

Comments

This is an ASABE Meeting Presentation, Paper No. 084099.

Copyright Owner
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Language
en
Citation Information
Wei Wu-Haan, Robert T. Burns, Cody John Hearn and David A. Grewell. "Evaluation of Effects of Ultrasonic Pretreatment on Biogas Production Potential from Corn Ethanol By-products" Providence, RI(2008)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/david_grewell/12/