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Monitoring parameters in
anaerobic digestion processes
David Bolzonella
1. Why monitoring
pH
alkalinity
volatile fatty acids concentration and speciation
biogas flowrate and composition
ammonia concentration
Keep it simple
but do not exsaggerate .
temperature,
MILD MONITORING pH
total and partial alkalinity
temperature
pH
total and partial alkalinity
HARD MONITORING
VFA conc and composition
Biogas flowrate and composition
Any other parameter
Partial
Alkalinity (pH 5.7),
Total due to OH-, NH3 ,
Alkalinity HCO3- , CO3=
(from pH
around 7-8
down to pH
4.3)
Volatile acid
Alkalinity due to
organic acids
(from pH 5.7 to 4.3)
= < 0.3
P
3000
pH (-)
4
2000
Partialalkalinity
Total alkalinity
2
1000
pH
0 0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
VFA, mgCOD/L
hydrolysis methanogenic
VFA CH4
kh kmethane
Substrate
(particulate organic matter)
Determination of the
Biochemical Methane Potential
(BMP)
36
University of Verona, Department of Biotechnology Inoculum pre-treatment (some suggestion )
37
Activity of the inoculum
University of Verona, Department of Biotechnology The quality of inoculum could be examined by
performing activity tests on acetate and cellulose (or
gelatine or both)
38
University of Verona, Department of Biotechnology
39
2100
University of Verona, Department of Biotechnology 1800 15 g bw; I/S = 5/1
30 g bw; I/S = 2/1
1500
3 g bw; I/S = 20/1
1200
ml CH4
900
600
300
0
0 400 hours 800 1200
100
CH4
Too much substrate 80
CO2
evolution 40
Acidogenic conditions ! 20
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
days
40
2100
1200
ml CH4
900
600
300
0
0 400 hours 800 1200
100
90 CO2
80
Right proportion 70
CH4
60
Good curve, useful also 50
%
40
for kinetic tests and CH4 30
evolution 20
10
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
days
41
University of Verona, Department of Biotechnology If the specific activity and hydrolysis constant are known (or
at least estimated) the correct ratio can be eventually be
determined according the mass balance for VS, which gives:
X SS V ww k h
Vinoculum =
VSS inoculum SMAinoculum
42
Medium
Necessary nutrients/micronutrient/vitamins/buffers are generally
required for optimal performance of anaerobic microorganisms
43
Data collection of produced biogas
University of Verona, Department of Biotechnology M e th o d C o m m e n ts
V olum e tric In accu racy d u e to varia tio n s of a tm osp h eric p ressu re
In accu racy d u e to in o rga n ic ca rbo n in liq u id p ha se
E va po ra tion o f w ater in d isp la cem e nt system s
S im ple an d che a p
M a no m e tric M an o m etric tran sd uce rs lim ited ra n ge o f a ccura cy
In accu racy d u e to in o rga n ic ca rbo n in liq u id p ha se
GC- TDC S p ecial e qu ipm e nt
T im e an d la b ou r req u iring
M an y sim u ltan e ou s
D irect m ea surem e nt, p re cise
G C - F ID S p ecial e qu ipm e nt
F a st
M an y sim u ltan e ou s
D irect m ea surem e nt, p re cise
44
University of Verona, Department of Biotechnology
The methane accumulated in the headspace of the closed
vessel should be measured by gas chromatography (GC). For
that, a sample volume of e.g. 100 L should be collected with
a gas-tight syringe and injected into the GC. Either a Thermal
Conductivity Detector (TCD) or a Flame Ionization Detector
(FID) can be used. The obtained peak area should be
compared to that obtained by injecting the same volume of a
standard gas mixture of the known composition.
The volume of methane produced is obtained by
multiplying the headspace volume by the % of CH4 in the
headspace as determined by GC analysis. For publication
and comparison with other studies, the values are often
calculated to STP conditions, i.e. converted to 0C and 1
atm.
45
University of Verona, Department of Biotechnology
90
80
70
mL Biogas Produced
60
50
thermophilic
40 experimental
30 mesophilic
experimental
20 theoretical
10
0
0 10 20 30 40
hours
Fit on Methane
0
0 5 10 15
-0.5
y = -0.1362x + 0.0087
2
R = 0.9567
-1
LN (S/S0)
-1.5
-2
-3
Time (day)