ISSN:
1432-0614
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
Summary H2 is a central metabolite in the process of methane digestion. In this study, the partial pressure of H2 was decreased by sparging the gas phase of the digester through an auxiliary reactor in which a Rhodomicrobium vaniellii culture or a mixed culture of sulfate-reducing bacteria was allowed to develop at the expense of H2 and CO2 present in the biogas. The decrease of the H2 concentration in the gas phase was significant. A 18–23 percent increase of the gas production rate and a concomitantly improved removal of volatile fatty acids from the mixed liquor was obtained. The sulfate-reducing bacteria appeared to be slightly more effective than the phototrophs. The results suggest that the increased biogas production rate is due to the decrease of propionic acid formation and the concomitant stimulation of propionate degradation.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00251778
