Process performance of anaerobic co-digestion of waste activated sludge and aquaculture sludge

The mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion (AcD) performances of waste activated sludge (WAS) and aquaculture sludge (AS) were studied. Mixtures of different compositions (0, 30, 50, 70 and 100 % of AS on the volume basis) were used as AcD substrates and tested via biochemical methane potential assay. The results showed that CH₄ production increased with AS/WAS ratio increment, and AS alone used as the substrate showed the maximum CH₄ yield, which was 8% higher than that achieved using WAS alone as the substrate. The CH₄ yield values were well fitted with the modified Gompertz model. The maximum methane potential (P₀) and maximum methane production rate (R₀) increased from 66.8 mL CH₄/g VS_fed to 70.9 mL CH₄/g VS_fed and from 4.40 mL CH₄/g VS_fed·d to 5.59 mL CH₄/g VS_fed·d, respectively, as the AS/WAS ratio increased from 0% to 100 %. In addition, lower levels of free ammonia and non-biodegradable organic matter contributed to the CH₄ production increasing with AS/WAS ratio increased.     

Influence of Aguamiel (Agave atrovirens) as a Natural Feed Additive on Cecal Fermentation Kinetics of Some Forage Species in Horse Feeding

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different dose levels of aguamiel (Agave atrovirens) on in vitro cecal gas, methane (CH₄), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) productions of five forage species (Avena sativa [hay]), Moringa oleifera, Caesalpinia coriacea, Salix babylonica, and Eichhornia crassipes using inocula from the horse. The forage samples were incubated with three doses of aguamiel: 0, 34, and 68 μg of aguamiel/g dry matter (DM) of substrate. Cecal inocula were collected from four adult female Criolla horses (3–4 years of age and weighing 300 ± 15.0 kg) grazed on native grasses for about 8 hours without supplementation. Forage type affected (P < .001) cecal asymptotic, rate and lag time of gas, CH₄ and CO₂ productions (mL/g DM), pH and DM degradability. Aguamiel dose had linear and quadratic effects (P < .05) on the asymptotic and rate of CH₄ productions and rate and lag time of CO₂ productions (mL/g DM). Forage type × aguamiel dose interactions were significant (P < .05) for asymptotic, rate and lag time of gas, and CH₄ and CO₂ productions (mL/g DM). Forage species effects were pronounced (P < .05) on CH₄ and CO₂ productions (mL/g incubated and degraded DM) and proportional CH₄ production at all hours of incubation, except for CO₂ production (mL/g incubated DM). Aguamiel dose affected (P < .05) CO₂ production (mL/g incubated DM) and proportional CO₂ production at the incubated hours. Forage type × aguamiel dose interactions were observed (P < .05) for CO₂ production (mL/g incubated DM) and proportional CO₂ production at the incubated hours but had no impact on CH₄ production. It is concluded that addition of aguamiel to five forage species affected fermentation kinetics of gas production resulting in different in vitro cecal gas, CH₄ and CO₂ productions from these substrates.     

Decreasing of methanogenic activity in paddy fields via lowering ponding water temperature: A modeling investigation

Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas and the huge CH₄ fluxes emitted from paddy fields can prejudice the eco-compatibility of rice cultivation. CH₄ production in submerged rice crops is known to be highly influenced by water temperature. Hence, lowering ponding water temperature (LPWT) could be an option to mitigate CH₄ emissions from paddy environments when it is possible either to irrigate with slightly colder water or to increase ponding water depth. However, paddy soil is a complex environment in which many processes are simultaneously influenced by temperature, leading to a difficult prediction of LPWT effects. For this reason, LPWT efficiency is here theoretically investigated with a one-dimensional process-based model that simulates the vertical and temporal dynamics of water temperature in soil and the fate of chemical compounds that influence CH₄ emissions. The model is validated with literature measured data of CH₄ emissions from a paddy field under time-variable temperature regime. Based on modeling results, LPWT appears promising since the simulated reduction of CH₄ emissions reaches about −12% and −49% for an LPWT equal to −5 °C during the ripening stage only (last 30 days of growing season, when rice is less sensitive to temperature variations) and −2 °C over the whole growing season, respectively. LPWT affects CH₄ emissions either directly (decreasing methanogenic activity), indirectly (decreasing activity of bacteria using alternative electron acceptors), or both. The encouraging results provide the theoretical ground for further laboratory and field studies aimed to investigate the LPWT feasibility in paddy environments.     

Cattle, ethanol, and biogas: Does closing the loop make economic sense?

The recent surge in US ethanol production has led to an increase in the amount of byproduct feed available to cattle producers. The impetus behind the increase in ethanol production is US policy to increase the production and use of renewable fuels. Manure from cattle production can also be used to produce a renewable fuel: methane. By co-locating a cattle feedlot with an existing ethanol plant, there may be synergies between ethanol, methane and cattle production. Byproduct from the ethanol plant can be fed to feeder cattle, manure from the cattle used in methane production, and the methane used as an energy source in the ethanol plant. Alternatively, methane can be used to generate electricity. We investigate the economic advisability of these systems. Using cost estimates for construction and operating a feedlot and anaerobic digester for methane production, we project revenues and costs over a 20-year time period. Our findings are consistent with studies that have considered just cattle production and methane production. The investment required to build a slatted-floor feedlot and concrete anaerobic digester cannot be justified under existing economic conditions. An increase in renewable fuel/electricity subsidies of at least $0.053 per kW h or $72 per 1000 m³ of methane are required to just break even when methane is used to produce electricity or is burned for thermal energy, respectively.     

甘蔗叶干法厌氧发酵工艺研究

为实现甘蔗叶的能源化利用,采用干法厌氧发酵方法研究发酵原料总固体含量为20%时,不同接种量、草粪比以及发酵温度对甘蔗叶产气量和产甲烷的影响。结果表明：接种量在30%和40%时发酵可以正常启动,接种量为40%时总产气量最高,但发酵后期甲烷含量下降很快;草粪比为1∶1和2∶1时总产气量高,甲烷含量均在60%以上,产气效果明显好于草粪比为1∶0的处理组;发酵温度为35℃时,总产气量和甲烷含量最高,发酵温度为30℃和40℃时总产气量相差不大。甘蔗叶干法厌氧发酵产沼气效果较好的工艺参数为：接种量30%、草粪比1∶1和发酵温度35℃。各处理组在甲烷含量达到最高值之前,甲烷含量与发酵时间之间呈现很强的线性相关性。产气高峰过后,虽然日产气量明显下降,但气体中甲烷含量下降幅度不大。     

一种新的厌氧污泥比活性试验测定法

本文介绍了一种以医用血清瓶作发酵瓶、用医用注射器来量测所产沼气的厌氧污泥比活性试验测定法。实践表明此法简单实用、快速准确。     

Fluxes of CO2, CH4 and N2O from drained organic soils in deciduous forests

We examined net greenhouse gas exchange at the soil surface in deciduous forests on soils with high organic contents. Fluxes of CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O were measured using dark static chambers for two consecutive years in three different forest types; (i) a drained and medium productivity site dominated by birch, (ii) a drained and highly productive site dominated by alder and (iii) an undrained and highly productive site dominated by alder. Although the drained sites had shallow mean groundwater tables (15 and 18 cm, respectively) their average annual rates of forest floor CO₂ release were almost twice as high compared to the undrained site (1.9±0.4 and 1.7±0.3, compared to 1.0±0.2 kg CO₂ m⁻² yr⁻¹). The average annual CH₄ emission was almost 10 times larger at the undrained site (7.6±3.1 compared to 0.9±0.5 g CH₄ m⁻² yr⁻¹ for the two drained sites). The average annual N₂O emissions at the undrained site (0.1±0.05 g N₂O m⁻² yr⁻¹) were lower than at the drained sites, and the emissions were almost five times higher at the drained alder site than at the drained birch site (0.9±0.35 compared to 0.2±0.11 g N₂O m⁻² yr⁻¹). The temporal variation in forest floor CO₂ release could be explained to a large extent by differences in groundwater table and air temperature, but little of the variation in the CH₄ and N₂O fluxes could be explained by these variables. The measured soil variables were only significant to explain for the within-site spatial variation in CH₄ and N₂O fluxes at the undrained swamp, and dark forest floor CO₂ release was not explained by these variables at any site. The between-site spatial variation was attributed to variations in drainage, groundwater level position, productivity and tree species for all three gases. The results indicate that N₂O emissions are of greater importance for the net greenhouse gas exchange at deciduous drained forest sites than at coniferous drained forest sites.     

水稻田甲烷的减排方法研究

通过多年对稻田甲烷排放量的野外实验观测和对稻田甲烷产生与排放因子的研究，总结出减少稻田烷排放的主要方法，分析了各种减排方法的效果和经济效益，并利用层次分析法对各种减排方法做了综合的评价。现有的稻田甲减排方法主要有其它肥料代替传统的有机肥，种植低甲排放的水稻品种、灌水管理等。适用中国国情的方法主要有杂交稻替代常规稻，沼渣肥替代纯有要肥，沼渣肥替代有机肥的减排效果较好，社会效益和环境效益明显优于杂交稻     

Methane emissions from different vegetation zones in a Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau wetland

We measured methane (CH₄) emissions in the Luanhaizi wetland, a typical alpine wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China, during the plant growth season (early July to mid-September) in 2002. Our aim was to quantify the spatial and temporal variation of CH₄ flux and to elucidate key factors in this variation. Static chamber measurements of CH₄ flux were made in four vegetation zones along a gradient of water depth. There were three emergent-plant zones (Hippuris-dominated; Scirpus-dominated; and Carex-dominated) and one submerged-plant zone (Potamogeton-dominated). The smallest CH₄ flux (seasonal mean=33.1 mg CH₄ m⁻² d⁻¹) was observed in the Potamogeton-dominated zone, which occupied about 74% of the total area of the wetland. The greatest CH₄ flux (seasonal mean=214 mg CH₄ m⁻² d⁻¹) was observed in the Hippuris-dominated zone, in the second-deepest water area. CH₄ flux from three zones (excluding the Carex-dominated zone) showed a marked diurnal change and decreased dramatically under dark conditions. Light intensity had a major influence on the temporal variation in CH₄ flux, at least in three of the zones. Methane fluxes from all zones increased during the growing season with increasing aboveground biomass. CH₄ flux from the Scirpus-dominated zone was significantly lower than in the other emergent-plant zones despite the large biomass, because the root and rhizome intake ports for CH₄ transport in the dominant species were distributed in shallower and more oxidative soil than occupied in the other zones. Spatial and temporal variation in CH₄ flux from the alpine wetland was determined by the vegetation zone. Among the dominant species in each zone, there were variations in the density and biomass of shoots, gas-transport system, and root-rhizome architecture. The CH₄ flux from a typical alpine wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau was as high as those of other boreal and alpine wetlands.     

土壤甲烷氧化菌及水分状况对其活性的影响

阐述了土壤中甲烷氧化的机理及土壤水分状况对甲烷氧化的影响,土壤中甲烷氧化分4步进行,首先甲烷在sMMO或pMMO作用下氧化成甲醇,甲醇在甲醇脱氢酶作用下氧化成甲醛,甲醛是甲烷氧化菌合成体细胞的碳源,甲烷氧化菌Type Ⅰ利用RuMP途径把甲醛转化为细胞合成的中间体,TypeⅡ则利用丝氨酸途径,同时甲醛在甲醛脱氢酶作用下氧化为甲酸,后者再在甲酸脱氢酶作用下氧化为CO_2,从而完成甲烷氧化。甲烷氧化菌TypeⅠ只含pMMO,而TypeⅡ既含sMMO又含pMMO,因此其生存力更强。土壤中甲烷氧化主要发生在10cm左右的土层中,明显受土壤水分状况的影响,甲烷氧化的最佳土壤含水量变化为20％～70％间,主要取决于土壤机械组成和有机质含量。