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Research Summaries

Manure Treatment

Purpose

Develop an anaerobic treatment screening assay for agricultural waste samples that may become feedstocks for anaerobic digesters. Such materials include manure, ethanol production byproducts, and food processing wastewater. The assay determines if further anaerobic digester development studies are warranted by examining the anaerobic biodegradability of the wastewater under the tested conditions. The data that allows the comparison of the experimental energy production to that estimated from theoretical calculations.

Current Activity

A unique anaerobic respirometry protocol, similar in concept to serum bottle assays, has been developed. The advantages of anaerobic respirometry include real-time cumulative gas volume and gas production rates. Currently, the University is working with 3 consulting organizations, one specializing in farm digesters and the other 2 focusing on food processing wastewater. For these organizations, the University is conducting assays on numerous samples and cultures. This will allow for the development of a database of treatability potential and allow for lessons learned about biogas potential.

What We Have Learned

Biogas potential is very sensitive to experimental design considerations and amendments. Care in conducting assays is critical to obtain accurate results that can be correlated to the waste stream and not assay operating conditions. From the samples that have already been analyzed, amendments that end up in waste streams have a substantial impact on biogas potential.

Why is This Important

Anaerobic digestion offers great potential to solve some of the most pressing environmental problems in rural America – odors from animal agriculture facilities, nutrient management, and water quality control. However, the technology is sensitive to feedstocks and is complex to manage. Objective data collected using standard, defensible techniques is needed to properly assess potential and design scale-up projects.

For More Information

Henderson, E.M., and Safferman, S. I. 2007. Anaerobic Digestion Feasibility Protocol for Fruit and Vegetable Processors. ASABE Annual International Meeting, ASABE, Minneapolis Convention Center, 17 - 20 June 2007.

Steve Safferman
Michigan State University
Biosystems Engineering
202 Farrall Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824

This report was prepared for the 2008 annual meeting of the regional research committee, S-1032 "Animal Manure and Waste Utilization, Treatment and Nuisance Avoidance for a Sustainable Agriculture". This report is not peer-reviewed and the author has sole responsibility for the content.