Experimental Practice in order to Increasing Efficiency of Biogas Production by Treating Digestate Sludge.

Abstract: According to national and international policies in order to protect environment regarding renewable sources of energy, biogas is one of the best alternative to reduce waste and pollution and getting energy. Biogas is the gas that is produced by some kinds of microorganisms in anaerobic condition from organic waste treatment. Technology of biogas plants is varies and there is no standard procedure that is applicable worldwide. Methane (biogas), which is produced from wastes and it is known widely since 1973. By organic waste degradation methane is produced and waste volume will be reduced. Some surveys prove that during anaerobic digestion only 50% of organic matter is degraded. Anaerobic degradation has some steps that are hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis. Since hydrolysis is rate-limited step it can be improved by some pretreatment and some action like improving monitoring system can show that the efficiency of biogas will increase. There are three main pretreatment methods. During this study digestate sludge from different waste treatment plants were pretreated. First experience was pretreating digestate sludge from Sobacken, Falköping, Västerås by Enzyme Addition (Cellolase) and the measuring of biogas (methane) has done by Gas Chromatograph (GC). Second experience was pretreating digestate sludge by Acid (Sulfuric acid). The data of those measurements are shown that the amount of biogas was increased two times in the case of Västerås by enzyme addition, which is about 70% of theoretical expectation of this pretreatment and pretreating digestate sludge of Sobacken by acid pretreatment could increase the amount of biogas two times as well that was about 60% of theoretical estimation. By proper gas chromatograph and choosing one kind of waste and pretreating that by just one kind of pretreatment in each experience and following the results and going further the biogas efficiency will increase significantly because still 50% organic matter is inside the digester.