Biogas Production—The Effect of the Zinc Concentration on the Profile of Volatile Fatty Acids in Fermentation Mixtures

Marcin Cichosz (), Sławomir Łazarski (), Andrzej Butarewicz and Urszula Kiełkowska
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Marcin Cichosz: Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 7 Gagarin Street, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Sławomir Łazarski: MCMP Sp. z o.o., 5 Świerkowa Street, 86-300 Grudziądz, Poland
Andrzej Butarewicz: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 45A Wiejska Street, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Urszula Kiełkowska: Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 7 Gagarin Street, 87-100 Toruń, Poland

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-24

Abstract: The development of renewable energy sources is one of the most important paths for today’s economy to follow. Currently, the process of obtaining energy from the combustion of methane extracted by methane fermentation is gaining importance. To improve its efficiency and the speed of the fermentation process and enzyme activation, this study analyzed the effect of the addition of zinc as a micronutrient to fermentation processes using corn silage. The zinc concentration in the fermenter required to stimulate fermentation processes was determined. Studies were conducted to determine inhibitory and toxic concentrations. The determination of the influence of zinc ions on the VFA profile and the value of the carbon-to-methane conversion coefficient is important for the economic aspects of obtaining biogas with the highest methane content. The carbon-to-methane conversion factor and the effect of the addition of zinc on the value of this factor were determined. During the course of the research, modern analytical chemistry methods and techniques were used. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal concentration of zinc in the digester to maximize the methane yield of the fermentation process.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; zinc; carbon conversion factor; DETATA WD-XRF (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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