Department of Agriculture, Forestry, Environmental Engineering and Land Based Economics (DEIAFA) Mechanics Section - Torino University, via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
Bioresour Technol. 2012 Jan;104:708-14. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.10.061. Epub 2011 Nov 3.
One way to optimize methane production in anaerobic digestion plants is to substitute ligno-cellulosic by-products for crops traditionally used as energy sources. However, using these by-products requires introduction of a pre-treatment system to minimize energy input and maximize energy output for an improved net energy equation. In this study, four agricultural byproducts (wheat, barley, rice straw and maize stalks) underwent various mechanical and thermal treatments prior to anaerobic digestion including particle size reduction to 5.0, 2.0, 0.5, and 0.2 cm and heat application to 90 °C and 120 °C. Mechanical pre-treatment increased byproduct methane yields more than 80%; thermal pre-treatment improved yields more than 60% for wheat and barley straw. Pre-treating wheat straw improved methane yields most, regardless of whether the method was thermal or mechanical. An electric net energy balance was also completed to analyze the feasibility of the pre-treatments according to input and output of energy.
优化厌氧消化厂甲烷产量的一种方法是用木质纤维素副产品替代传统用作能源的作物。然而，使用这些副产品需要引入预处理系统，以最小化能源投入并最大化能源输出，从而改善净能源方程。在这项研究中，四种农业副产品（小麦、大麦、稻草和玉米秸秆）在进行厌氧消化之前经历了各种机械和热处理，包括粒径减小到 5.0、2.0、0.5 和 0.2 厘米以及加热到 90°C 和 120°C。机械预处理使副产品的甲烷产量增加了 80%以上；热预处理使小麦和大麦秸秆的产量提高了 60%以上。无论采用热还是机械预处理，预处理小麦秸秆都能最大程度地提高甲烷产量。还完成了电能净能量平衡，根据能量的输入和输出来分析预处理的可行性。
