Common Reed and Maize Silage Co-Digestion as a Pathway towards Sustainable Biogas Production
The key factor in sustainable biogas production is a feedstock whose production has no adverse impact on the environment. Since maize cultivation harms the environment, biogas plant operators seek a more sustainable feedstock. Common reed is an invasive species mown as part of wetland conservation m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/695 |
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| author | Robert Czubaszek Agnieszka Wysocka-Czubaszek Wendelin Wichtmann Grzegorz Zając Piotr Banaszuk |
| author_facet | Robert Czubaszek Agnieszka Wysocka-Czubaszek Wendelin Wichtmann Grzegorz Zając Piotr Banaszuk |
| author_sort | Robert Czubaszek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The key factor in sustainable biogas production is a feedstock whose production has no adverse impact on the environment. Since maize cultivation harms the environment, biogas plant operators seek a more sustainable feedstock. Common reed is an invasive species mown as part of wetland conservation measures, or it can be harvested from paludiculture. This study aimed to investigate wet co-digestion of maize silage with 10%, 30%, and 50% content of common reed silage using the biochemical methane potential (BMP) test. In addition, the potential energy generated and avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were calculated. The substitution of maize silage with 10%, 30%, and 50% content of reed silage reduced the methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) yield by 13%, 28%, and 35%, respectively. A disadvantage of reed silage addition was increased ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) and hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) concentrations in biogas. Although substituting maize silage with reed silage decreases the CH<sub>4</sub> yield, the co-digestion of maize and reed biomass from conservation or paludiculture may positively affect environmental aspects of energy generation. The substitution of maize with reed in biogas plants decreases the area used for maize cultivation and reduces GHG emissions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:54:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b273524cfbac49c4b55f4621aa1fad49 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:54:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-b273524cfbac49c4b55f4621aa1fad492023-11-30T22:02:42ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-01-0116269510.3390/en16020695Common Reed and Maize Silage Co-Digestion as a Pathway towards Sustainable Biogas ProductionRobert Czubaszek0Agnieszka Wysocka-Czubaszek1Wendelin Wichtmann2Grzegorz Zając3Piotr Banaszuk4Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Str., 15-351 Bialystok, PolandFaculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Str., 15-351 Bialystok, PolandPartners in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Succow Foundation and Greifswald University, Ellernholzstraße 1, 17489 Greifswald, GermanyFaculty of Production Engineering, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Głęboka 28 Str., 20-950 Lublin, PolandFaculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Str., 15-351 Bialystok, PolandThe key factor in sustainable biogas production is a feedstock whose production has no adverse impact on the environment. Since maize cultivation harms the environment, biogas plant operators seek a more sustainable feedstock. Common reed is an invasive species mown as part of wetland conservation measures, or it can be harvested from paludiculture. This study aimed to investigate wet co-digestion of maize silage with 10%, 30%, and 50% content of common reed silage using the biochemical methane potential (BMP) test. In addition, the potential energy generated and avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were calculated. The substitution of maize silage with 10%, 30%, and 50% content of reed silage reduced the methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) yield by 13%, 28%, and 35%, respectively. A disadvantage of reed silage addition was increased ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) and hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) concentrations in biogas. Although substituting maize silage with reed silage decreases the CH<sub>4</sub> yield, the co-digestion of maize and reed biomass from conservation or paludiculture may positively affect environmental aspects of energy generation. The substitution of maize with reed in biogas plants decreases the area used for maize cultivation and reduces GHG emissions.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/695biogasspecific methane yieldpaludicultureelectricityheatgreenhouse gases emissions |
| spellingShingle | Robert Czubaszek Agnieszka Wysocka-Czubaszek Wendelin Wichtmann Grzegorz Zając Piotr Banaszuk Common Reed and Maize Silage Co-Digestion as a Pathway towards Sustainable Biogas Production Energies biogas specific methane yield paludiculture electricity heat greenhouse gases emissions |
| title | Common Reed and Maize Silage Co-Digestion as a Pathway towards Sustainable Biogas Production |
| title_full | Common Reed and Maize Silage Co-Digestion as a Pathway towards Sustainable Biogas Production |
| title_fullStr | Common Reed and Maize Silage Co-Digestion as a Pathway towards Sustainable Biogas Production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Common Reed and Maize Silage Co-Digestion as a Pathway towards Sustainable Biogas Production |
| title_short | Common Reed and Maize Silage Co-Digestion as a Pathway towards Sustainable Biogas Production |
| title_sort | common reed and maize silage co digestion as a pathway towards sustainable biogas production |
| topic | biogas specific methane yield paludiculture electricity heat greenhouse gases emissions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/695 |
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