Biomass Energy I
Knowledge of the fundamental processes
PPRE / EUREC-REMA
Winter term 2009/10
TODAYS PROGRAMME
• What is ANAEROBIC DIGESTION?
• Role of Microrganisms
• Parameters that influence Methana-
tion
• Basic Concepts of Biogas Plants
Anaerobic digestion −→a complex process:
• conditions that encourage the
natural breakdown of organic
matter
• bacteria working in the absence
of air (oxygen).
Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes
in which microorganisms break down bio-
degradable material in the absence of oxy-
gen.
The digestion process begins with bacte-
rial hydrolysis of the input materials break-
ing down insoluble organic polymers such
as carbohydrates and make them avail-
able for other bacteria.
Acidogenic bacteria then convert the sug-
ars and amino acids into carbon dioxide,
hydrogen, ammonia, and organic acids.
Acetogenic bacteria then convert these
resulting organic acids into acetic acid,
along with additional ammonia, hydrogen,
and carbon dioxide.
Methanogens convert these products to
methane and carbon dioxide.
Biology of methanogenesis
Anaerobic digestion (AD) provides an ef-
involved in methane fermentation is nec-
fective method for turning residues from
essary for planning, building and operat-
livestock farming, agri-residues and food
ing biogas plants.
processing industries into:
Anaerobic digestion involves the activities
of three different bacterial communities:
• Biogas (rich in methane) which can • Fermentative bacteria (hydrolysis),
be used to generate heat and/or elec-
tricity
• Acetogenic bacteria (acidification &
• Fibre which can be used as a nutrient- acetogenesis),
rich soil conditioner, and
• Liquor which can be used as liquid fer- • Methanogenic bacteria (methanogen-
tiliser esis).
Biogas and the global carbon cycle
The process of biogas-production depends
• 590-880 million tons of methane per on various parameters.
year are released worldwide into the at-
mosphere through uncontrolled microbial For example, changes in ambient temper-
activity. ature or pH can have a negative effect on
bacterial activity.
• About 90% of the emitted methane de-
rives from biogenic sources, i.e. from the
decomposition of biomass.
• The rest is of fossil origin (e.g. petro-
chemical processes, but also release of
reservoirs through climatic change).
The tropospheric methane concentration
amounts to about 1.65 ppm (methane is
a very effective greenhouse gas).
Hydrolysis (Stage I)
The introduction of Anaerobic Digestion
as a technology can thus
Organic matter is dissolved externally by
extracellular enzymes (cellulase, amylase,
• help farmers to reduce fossil fuels com- protease and lipase).
sumption, and
Bacteria decompose the long chains of
the complex carbohydrates, proteins and
• the slurry reduces demand for synthetic
lipids
fertilisers and other soil conditioners
into smaller molecules.
• help avoid methane emissions into the
For example, polysaccharides are converted
atmosphere
into monosaccharides.
Proteins are split into peptides and amino
• in large, centralised installations it may acids.
contribute to national energy supply.
 Under natural conditions, methane pro-
ducing microorganisms occur under anaer-
obic condition, e.g. under water ( sedi-
ments) and in animal stomaches.

They are obligatory anaerobic and very

sensitive to environmental changes.

Acidification (Stage II) Parameters which influence the biometha-

Conversion of products of hydrolysis into
acetic acid (CH3COOH), hydrogen (H2)
and carbon dioxide (CO2) by acid-producing
bacteria.
These bacteria are facultatively anaero-
bic and can grow under acidic (low pH)
conditions.
In contrast to the acidogenic and aceto-
genic bacteria, the methanogenic bacte-
ria belong to the archaebacteria.
They are a group of bacteria with a very
heterogeneous morphology and a num-
ber of common properties that distinguish
them from all other bacterial in general.
nation
The metabolic activity involved in micro-
biological methanation is dependent on
the following factors:
• Substrate temperature
• Available nutrients
• Retention time (flow-through time)

Symbiosis of bacteria
To produce acetic acid, they need oxygen
and carbon. • pH level
Methane- and acid-producing bacteria act
in a symbiotical way. • Nitrogen inhibition and C/N ratio
By using the oxygen solved in the solution
or bounded-oxygen, the acid-producing bac- • Substrat solid content and agitation
Acid-producing bacteria create an envi-
teria create an anaerobic condition which • Inhibitory factors
ronment with ideal conditions for methane-
is essential for the methane producing mi-
producing bacteria (anaerobic conditions,
croorganisms (next stage).
compounds with a low molecular weight).

Methane-producing microorganisms use the

Moreover, they reduce the compounds with
a low molecular weight into alcohols, or-
ganic acids, amino acids, carbon dioxide,
hydrogen sulphide and traces of methane.
This process is only possible with energy
input.
intermediates of the acid-producing bac-
teria. EFFECT OF CONDITIONS
Without consuming them, toxic conditions
• Each of the types of bacteria responsi-
for the acid-producing microorganisms would
ble for the three stages of the anaero-
develop.
bic digestion is affected differently by the
above parameters.
In fermentation processes the metabolic
actions of various bacteria all act in
concert.

• Since interactive effects between the

No single bacteria is able to produce fer-
mentation products alone.
various determining factors exist, no pre-
cise quantitative data on gas production
as a function of the above factors are
available.
• Discussion of the various factors is lim-
ited to their qualitative effects on the pro-
cess of fermentation.

Methane formation (Stage III)

Temperature range of anaerobic fermen-
tation
Methane-producing bacteria feed on com-
pounds with low molecular weight.
• Anaerobic fermentation is in principle
possible between 3°C and approximately
They utilize hydrogen, carbon dioxide and
70°C. Differentiation is generally made be-
acetic acid to form methane.
tween three temperature ranges:
1. The psychrophilic temperature range
lies below 20°C,
2. the mesophilic temperature range be-
tween 20°C and 40°C, and
3. the thermophilic temperature range
above 45°C.
• Mesophilic digestion tends to be robust
and more tolerant than the thermophilic
process, but gas production is slower i.e.
retention time is longer.
• Larger digestion tanks are required for
the mesophilic process compared to the
thermophilic one.
• The speed of methane production in-
creases with temperature. Since the amount
of free ammonia also increases with tem-
perature, the performance is reduced as
a result.
• Unheated biogas plants only work where
mean annual temperatures are around 20°C
or above or where the average daily tem-
perature is at least 18°C.
• Within the range of 20-28°C mean tem-
perature, gas production increases over-
proportionally.
• If the temperature of the biomass is be-
low 15°C, gas production will be so low
that the biogas plant is no longer eco-
nomically feasible because of the required
huge digester volume.
• Thermophilic digestion systems on the
other hand offer higher methane produc-
tion, faster throughput, better pathogen
and virus ’kill’, but require more expensive
technology, greater energy input (heat-
ing) and a high degree of process control.
Temperature Changes (during operation)
• The process of biomethanation is very
sensitive to changes in temperature.
• The degree of sensitivity, in turn, is de-
pendent on the temperature range.
• Brief fluctuations not exceeding the fol-
lowing limits may be regarded as still un-
inhibitory with respect to the process of
fermentation:
• psychrophilic range: ± 2°C/h
• mesophilic range: ± 1°C/h
• thermophilic range: ± 0,5°C/h
HCO− 3 ) and
NH− 4 ),
The daily temperature changes are no prob-
lem for underground plants, since the tem-
perature of the earth quite is constant.
Biomass Energy I
... Five minutes break ...
Role of Nutrients for Bacterial Growth
• Bacteria need more than just a supply of
organic substances as a source of carbon
and energy.
• They also require mineral nutrients.
• In addition to carbon, oxygen and hydro-
gen, the generation of bio-mass requires
nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous, potassium,
calcium, magnesium.
• A number of trace elements such as
iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, cobalt,
selenium,tungsten, nickel etc.
are essential for bacterial growth.
• Agricultural residues or municipal sewage
usually contain adequate amounts of the
all above mentioned elements.
• Higher concentration of any individual
substance usually has an inhibitory effect,
• Analyses on case-to-case basis to de-
termine which amount of which nutrients
needs to be added.
Batch-type and continuous plants
The hydraulic retention time can only be
accurately defined in batch-type facilities.
For continuous systems, the mean reten-
tion time is approximated by dividing the
digester volume by the daily influent rate.
V the pH level is no sign of substrate acids
RT =
Vin f l
RT : rentention time [day]; V : digester vol-
ume [m3]; Vin f : daily influent rate [m3/day]
• Depending on the digestor geometry,
the means of mixing, etc., the effective
retention time may vary widely for the in-
dividual substrate constituents.
• Selection of a suitable retention time
thus depends not only on the process tem-
perature, but also on the type of sub-
strate used.
For liquid manure undergoing fermenta-
tion in the mesophilic temperature range,
the following approximate values for re-
tention time apply:
• liquid cow manure: 20-30 days
• liquid pig manure: 15-25 days
• liquid chicken manure: 20-40 days
• animal manure mixed with plant ma-
terial:
50-80 days
• addition of (sterilised) slaugtherhouse
wastes may reduce retention time to
10-15 days.
If the retention time is too short, the
bacteria in the digester are "washed
out" faster than they can reproduce,
so that the fermentation practically
comes to a standstill.
pH value
• The methane-producing bacteria live best
under neutral to slightly alkaline condi-
tions.
• Once the process of fermentation has
stabilized under anaerobic conditions, the
pH will normally take on a value of be-
tween 7 and 8.5.
pH value is no indication of energy con-
tents
• Due to the buffer effect of carbon dioxide-
bicarbonate (OH−+CO2
ammonia-ammonium (H++NH3
and/or potential biogas yield.
• A digester containing a high volatile-
acid concentration requires a somewhat
higher-than-normal pH value.

• No generally valid guidelines can be of-
fered with regard to specific biogas pro-
If the pH value drops below 6.2, the
duction for any particular solids percent-
medium will have a toxic effect on the
age.
methanogenic bacteria.
• Since the results of mixing depend on
the substrate in use, it is not possible
to achieve a general evaluation of various
mixing systems.
Thus, such system will be designed on the
basis of empirical data.

Nitrogen inhibition
Inhibitory factors
Agitation
• All substrates contain nitrogen. The
• The presence of heavy metals, antibi-
table below lists the nitrogen content of
Many substrates and various modes of otics and detergents used in livestock hus-
some organic substances and the C/N ra-
fermentation require substrate agitation bandry has an inhibitory effect on the pro-
tio.
or mixing in order to maintain process sta- cess of anaerobic digestion.
bility within the digester. The objectives
• For higher pH values, even a relatively
of agitation are: The following table lists the limit concen-
low nitrogen concentration may inhibit the
trations (mg/l) for some inhibitors.
process of fermentation.

• removal of the produced gas inhibitor limit [g/m3]

• mixing of fresh substrate and bacterial Copper 10-250
• Noticeable inhibition occurs above a ni-
population (inoculation) Calcium 8000
trogen concentration of roughly 1700 mg
• preclusion of scum formation and sed- Sodium 8000
ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N) per liter sub- imentation Magnesium 3000
strate. • no big temperature gradients within Nickel 100
the digester Zinc 350
• BUT – Microorganisms need both nitro- • provision of a uniform bacterial popu- Chromium 200
gen and carbon for assimilation into their lation density Sulfide (as Sulfur) 200
• prevention of the formation of dead Cyanide 2
cell structures.
spaces.

• Experiments have shown that the metabolic
activity of methanogenic bacteria is best
at a C/N ratio of 8-20,
• Optimum value depending on the nature
of the substrate.
For designing of agitation “tools”, the
following has to be considered:
TECHNOLOGY
The digestion process takes place in a
warm (thermally insulated or heated), sealed
airless volume (the digester) which cre-
ates the ideal conditions for the bacteria
to ferment the organic material in oxygen-
free conditions.

material N in [%] C/N

Cow dung 1.8 19.9 1. The Biogas fermentation process in-
The digestion tank needs to be warmed
Chicken manure 6.3 7.3 volves a symbiotic relationship between
and mixed thoroughly to create the ideal
Pig manure 2.8 13.7 various strains of bacteria,
Kitchen waste 1.9 28.6 conditions for the bacteria to convert or-
consequently, too frequent mixing is
Corn stalks 1.2 56.6 ganic matter into biogas (a mixture of
bad for the process. Slow stirring is
Rice straw 0.7 51.0 carbon dioxide, methane and small amounts
better than fast. ∗
Bagasse 0.4 31.0 of other gases).
Soybean stalks 1.3 33.0
Peanut hulls 1.7 31.0 ∗
Please contact Mr Kulschewski for a deeper in-
sight into the mixing processes in a biogas plant!

Substrate solids content

Different Types of Biogas Plants
2. A thin layer of scum on top must not
• Mobility of the methanogenic bacteria necessarily have an adverse effect on
within the substrate is restricted by in- The three main types of simple biogas
the process.
creasing solids content, and the biogas plants are shown in the next figure :
yield may suffer as a result.
3. Some types of biogas systems can func-
• balloon plants
• However, reports of relatively high bio- tion well without any mechanical agi-
gas yields from landfill material with a tation at all. • fixed-dome plants
high solids content are found in the lit-
• floating-drum plants
erature.

Balloon plants
Balloon plants consists of a digester bag
(e.g. PVC) in the upper part of which the
gas is stored.
Inlet and outlet are attached directly to
the plastic skin of the balloon.
Sufficient gas pressure is achieved through
the elasticity of the balloon and by added
weights placed on the balloon.
Advantages are low cost, ease of trans-
portation, low construction sophistication,
high digester temperatures, uncomplicated
cleaning, emptying and maintenance.
Disadvantages can be the relatively short
life span, high susceptibility to damage,
little creation of local employment and,
therefore, limited self-help potential.
A variation of the balloon plant is the
channel-type digester, which is usually cov-
ered with plastic sheeting and a sunshade.
Fixed-dome plants
The fixed-dome plant consists of a di-
gester with a fixed, non-movable gas holder,
which sits on top of the digester.
When gas production starts, the slurry is
displaced into the compensation tank.
Gas pressure increases with the volume
of gas stored and the height difference
between the slurry level in the digester
and the slurry level in the compensation
tank.
The gas drum is prevented from tilting by
a guiding frame. If the drum floats in a
water jacket, it cannot get stuck, even in
substrate with high solid content.
Advantages are the relatively low construc-
Advantages are the simple, easily under-
tion costs, the absence of moving parts
stood operation - the volume of stored
and corroding steel parts. If well con-
gas is directly visible. The gas pressure
structed, fixed dome plants have a long
is constant, determined by the weight of
life span. The underground construction
the gas holder. The construction is rela-
saves space and protects the digester from
tively easy, construction mistakes do not
temperature changes. The construction
lead to major problems in operation and
provides opportunities for skilled local em-
gas yield.
ployment.
Disadvantages are mainly the frequent prob-
lems with the gas-tightness of the brick-
work gas holder (a small crack in the up- Disadvantages are high material costs of
per brickwork can cause heavy losses of
the steel drum, the susceptibility of steel
biogas).
parts to corrosion. Floating drum plants
Fixed-dome plants are, therefore, recom-
have a shorter life span than fixed-dome
mended only where construction can be
plants and regular maintenance costs for
supervised by experienced biogas techni-
cians. The gas pressure fluctuates sub- the painting of the drum.
stantially depending on the volume of the
stored gas.
High-tec Biogas Plants
Even though the underground construc-
To contrast these simple biogas plants,
tion buffers temperature extremes, digester
the next figure gives an impression about
temperatures are generally low.
dimensions of ‘industrial plants’ which are
being constructed in developed countries.
Floating-drum plants
Floating-drum plants consist of an under-
ground digester and a moving gas-holder.
Sources of Info for Self-Study
The gas-holder floats either directly on
the fermentation slurry or in a water jacket http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/
of its own.
The gas is collected in the gas drum, which
rises or moves down, according to the
amount of gas stored.
PROBLEMS Some Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microorganism
1. Please find short explanations for the
following key-words: http://library.thinkquest.org/11226/main/c17txt.htm

(a) hydrolysis
(b) acidogenation / acetogenation There are useful links and documents linked
(c) methanogenation to the weekly plan in physik-multimedial
(d) anaerobic digestion

2. Please give chemical formulas or struc-

tural explanations of the following sub-
stances:

(a) polysaccharide <–> monosaccha-

ride

(b) proteins, lipids, fatty acids

(c) enzymes