Journal
WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
Volume 80, Issue 2, Pages 101-108Publisher
WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION
DOI: 10.2175/106143007X212157
Keywords
thermophilic anaerobic digestion; volatile fatty acids; volatile solids; thin stillage; methane; ethanol
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Anaerobic digestion of corn ethanol thin stillage was tested at thermophilic temperature (55 degrees C) with two completely stirred tank reactors. The thin stillage wastestream was organically concentrated with 100 g/L total chemical oxygen demand and 60 g/L volatiles solids and a low pH of approximately 4.0. Steady-state was achieved at 30-, 20-, and 15-day hydraulic retention times (HRTs) and digester failure at a 12-day HRT. Significant reduction of volatile solids was achieved, with a maximum reduction (89.8%) at the 20-day HRT. Methane yield ranged from 0.6 to 0.7 L methane/g volatile solids removed during steady-state operation. Effluent volatile fatty acids below 200 mg/L as acetic acid were achieved at 20-and 30-day HRTs. Ultrasonic pretreatment was used for one digester, although no significant improvement was observed. Ethanol plant natural gas consumption could be reduced 43 to 59% with the methane produced, while saving an estimated $ 7 to $ 17 million ($ 10 million likely) for a facility producing 360 million L ethanol/y.
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