The feasibility of trace element supplementation for stable operation of wheat stillage-fed biogas tank reactors

摘要

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of trace element supplementation onnoperation of wheat stillage-fed biogas tank reactors. The stillage used was a residue fromnbio-ethanol production, containing high levels of sulfate. In biogas production, high sulfate content hasnbeen associated with poor process stability in terms of low methane production and accumulationnof process intermediates. However, the results of the present study show that this problemncan be overcome by trace element supplementations. Four lab-scale wheat stillage-fed biogas tanknreactorswere operated for 345 days at a hydraulic retention time of 20 days (37 WnC). Itwas concluded thatndaily supplementation with Co (0.5 mg Lu00011n), Ni (0.2 mg Lu00011n)andFe(0.5gLu00011n) were required fornmaintaining process stability at the organic loading rate of 4.0 g volatile solids Lu00011ndayu00011n.