EFFICIENCY OF THE METHANE FERMENTATION PROCESS OF MACROALGAE BIOMASS ORIGINATING FROM PUCK BAY

The aim of the conducted research was to determine the possibilities of using the biomass of macroalgae obtained from Puck Bay during May September season in biogas production process. Model respirometry chambers were used to determine the amount of produced biogas and examine its quality composition. Depending on the month in which the algal biomass wasobtained, the experiments were divided into five stages. In each stage, the effectiveness of the biogas production process was tested for the applied loads in model fermentation chambers in the range from 1.0 kg DOM/m(3) . d to 3.0 kg DOM/m(3) . d. During the experiments it was found that the efficiency of biogas production varied from 205 dm(3)/kg DOM to 407 dm(3)/kg DOM depending on the month of the vegetation season and the applied organic matter load in the chamber. Methane content was very high and ranged from 63% to 74%.