Title:
Biogas Production from By-Products of the Sweet Sorghum Bioethanol Chain
Author(s):
Picco, D., Pin, M., Vecchiet, A., Alibardi, L., Sandon, A., Migliardi, D.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a drought tolerant energy crop, identified as a possible bioethanol feedstock. Its cultivation is simple and economic, and it could be an alternative in regions where growth of starch¬rich crops is not favorable. The aim of this study was to assess the potential productions of methane of by¬products obtained from bioethanol production from sweet sorghum, in order to improve overall energy recovery. Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) batch tests were performed on bagasse and vinasse samples obtained both from fresh and ensiled sweet sorghum. Both by¬products showed high energetic potentials with high biodegradability ratios. The methane specific yields were 336±5 and 303±25 Nm3CH4/tVS for bagasses from fresh and ensiled sorghum, respectively, while 484±13 and 475±10 Nm3CH4/tVS for vinasses from fresh and ensiled sorghum, respectively. Co¬digestion of bagasse and vinasse resulted in a slight reduction of the methane yield of the single feedstocks, even though it resulted in a hastening of the process, by reducing the digestion time for the bagasse. Biogas production from bagasse and vinasse can remarkably improve the energetic yield of bioethanol chain from sweet sorghum, by almost triplicating the gross energy obtained from bioethanol alone.
Keywords:
bioethanol, biogas, sorghum bicolor L. Moench
Topic:
R&D on Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Electricity and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Anaerobic digestion for biogas production
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
2DV.3.3
Pages:
1394 - 1399
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-2DV.3.3
Price:
FREE
