This study investigated the temperature effects on anaerobic digestion. The differences between the mesophilic operation temperatures of 35C and 42C were observed. Four different agricultural waste substrates and a control were individually loaded into small bottles, and individually analyzed at the two temperatures in triplicate. Gas production volume was measured daily and the gas composition was analyzed via gas chromatography every day for the first week and then every other day thereafter. Experimental data showed that temperature did not have a consistent effect on production of biogas, and that substrate properties were more crucial to process output than temperature. Further experimentation could help elucidate a clearer relationship between temperature and biogas production.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Flibbert, Samuel V.
• Patterson, Victoria L.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042016-125656

Advisor

• Kmiotek, Stephen J.

Year

• 2016

Center

• Nancy, France Project Center - MQP

Sponsor

• ENSIC Nancy

Date created

• 2016-04-20

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Source

• E-project-042016-125656

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2024-03-04