Title: Anaerobic batch co-digestion of Spartina alterniflora and potato

Authors: Jihong Li, Shiguan Yang, Zheng Zheng, Huamin Song, Zhuo Meng

Addresses: National Engineering Laboratory for Biomass Power Generation Equipment, Renewable Energy School, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China. ' National Engineering Laboratory for Biomass Power Generation Equipment, Renewable Energy School, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China. ' Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 400433, China. ' Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy of Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China. ' State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China

Abstract: The potential of mesophilic anaerobic batch digestion for the treatment of Spartina alterniflora, an invasive species widely distributed along Chinese coastlines, through co-digestion with readily biodegradable organics has been assessed. The accumulative biogas yield from S. alterniflora alone was 251 ml/g Total Solid (TS) (at 35°C), at TS of 6%, co-digestion with 80% of S. alterniflora and 20% of potato representing 6% of TS, gave a biogas yield of 383 ml/g TS (at 35°C). This is an increase of 52.5% compared with that obtained from digestion of pure S. alterniflora. In conclusion, using readily biodegradable potato as co-substrate of S. alterniflora can increase its anaerobic digestibility and biogas yield.

Keywords: Spartina alterniflora; biodegradable potatoes; anaerobic co-digestion; mesophilic anaerobic batch digestion; biogas yield; smooth cordgrass; bioinvasion; renewable energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2011.039087

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2011 Vol.45 No.1/2/3, pp.81 - 95

Published online: 29 Apr 2015 *

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