An approach to improve methanogenesis through the use of mixed cultures isolated from biogas digester

Biogas production has been shown to be inhibited by branched chain fatty acids (isobutyric, isovaleric) produced in the digester by cellulolytic organisms. Performance of these mixed cellulolytic cultures isolated at 25°C (C₂₅) and at 35° (C₃₅) in a batch digester using cattle manure confirmed that C₃₅, which forms mainly straight chain fatty acids from cellulose was more suitable for use as an inoculum than C₂₅ which formed predominantly branched chain fatty acids. Reconstitution of cellulolytic culture C₃₅ and mixed methanogens M₃₅ almost doubled both the amount and rate of methane production. Cellulolytic culture was useful in pretreatment of water hyacinth prior to its use as a substrate for methane generation A method for preservation and transportation of mixed cellulolytic culture for use as an inoculum in the digester is described.     

Perspectives of surface plasmon resonance sensors for optimized biogas methanation

Biogas production is becoming significantly viable as an energy source for replacing fossil‐based fuels. The further development of the biogas production process could lead to significant improvements in its potential. Wastewater treatment currently accounts for 3% of the electrical energy load in developed countries, while it could be developed to provide a source of nitrogen and phosphorus, in addition to energy. The improvement of anaerobic digestion (AD) detection technologies is the cornerstone to reach higher methane productivities and develop fully automatized processes to decrease operational costs. New sensors are requested to automatically obtain a better interpretation of the complex and dynamical internal reactor environment. This will require detailed systematic detection in order to realize a near‐optimal production process. In this review, optical fiber‐based sensors will be discussed to assess their potential for use in AD. There is currently a disparity between the complexity of AD, and online detection. By improving the durability, sensitivity, and cost of dissolved H₂ (as well as H₂S, acetic acid, ammonia, and methane) sensor technology, further understanding of the AD process may allow the prevention of process failure. The emergence of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing with optical fibers coupled with the H₂‐sensitive metal palladium, allows detection of dissolved hydrogen in liquid. By implementing these SPR sensors into AD, improvements to the biogas production process, even at small scales, may be achieved by guiding the process in the optimum direction, avoiding the collapse of the biological process. This review intends to assess the feasibility of online, cost‐effective, rapid, and efficient detection of dissolved H₂, as well as briefly assessing H₂S, acetic acid, ammonia, and methane in AD by SPR.     

Methane yield and species diversity dynamics of perennial wild plant mixtures established alone,under cover crop maize (Zea mays L.), and after spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The cultivation of perennial wild plant mixtures (WPMs) in biogas cropping systems dominated by maize (Zea mays L.) restores numerous ecosystem functions and improves both spatial and temporal agrobiodiversity. In addition, the colorful appearance of WPM can help enhance landscape beauty. However, their methane yield per hectare (MYH) varies greatly and amounts to only about 50% that of maize. This study aimed at decreasing MYH variability and increasing accumulated MYH of WPM by optimizing the establishment method. A field trial was established in southwest Germany in 2014, and is still running. It tested the effects of three WPM establishment procedures (E1: alone [without maize, in May], E2: undersown in cover crop maize [in May], E3: WPM sown after whole‐crop harvest of spring barley [Hordeum vulgare L.] in June) on both MYH and species diversity of two WPMs [S1, S2]). Mono‐cropped maize and cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) were used as reference crops. Of the WPM treatments tested, S2E2 achieved the highest (19,296 , 60.5% of maize) and S1E1 the lowest accumulated MYH (8,156 , 25.6% of maize) in the years 2014–2018. Cup plant yielded slightly higher than S2E2 (19,968 , 62.6% of maize). In 2014, the WPM sown under maize did not significantly affect the cover crop performance. From 2015 onward, E1 and E2 had comparable average annual MYH and average annual number of WPM species. With a similar accumulated MYH but significantly higher number of species (3.5–10.2), WPM S2E2 outperformed cup plant. Overall, the long‐term MYH performance of WPM cultivation for biogas production can be significantly improved by undersowing with maize as cover crop. This improved establishment method could help facilitate the implementation of WPM cultivation for biogas production and thus reduce the trade‐off between bioenergy and biodiversity.     

Species composition of semi-natural mesic grasslands as a factor influencing the methane yield of plant biomass (Central Europe)

Semi-natural lowland and mountain mesic meadows are grasslands rich in species, and their conservation status depends on treatments such as mowing or grazing livestock. In many countries, the condition of grasslands is deteriorating because of their inappropriate use or abandonment. This study aimed to determine the effects of the species composition of plant communities and functional plant groups on the methane yield from biomass harvested from mesic grasslands in the Sudetes Mountains. Biogas potential analysis was performed based on biomass samples collected from Poland and the Czech Republic. The biogas potential was determined in 40 day-long batch anaerobic digestion tests. The average methane yield obtained from the biomass was 246 ± 16 NL CH₄ kg^?1 VS, whereas the methane yield per hectare was 870 ± 203 m³ CH₄ ha^?1. Plant communities comprising different dominant species had no effect on the methane yield but affected the methane yield per hectare. Additionally, the species composition of grasslands with a higher percentage of forbs had lower biomass yield, resulting in lower methane yields per hectare. The continuity of the low-intensity management of mountain grassland, which can be provided by the utilization of their biomass for bioenergy production, sustains high biodiversity and ensures appropriate meadow conservation.     

Humane killing of fishes for scientific research: a comparison of two methods

Two killing methods were compared on the clupeid, bony bream Nematolosa erebi and it was found that ice‐slurry immersion was more humane than benzocaine overdose. The use of ice‐slurry for killing N. erebi should be accepted as a standard humane method and considered similarly for other warm‐water species.     

猪场沼液对蔬菜病原菌的抑制作用

用不同贮存时间的猪场沼液对7种蔬菜病原菌的抑制作用进行了研究。结果表明,新鲜猪场沼液原液对番茄灰霉病菌、番茄早疫病菌、辣椒疫病菌、黄瓜炭疽病菌和茄子灰霉病菌有较强的抑制作用,沼液贮存对番茄灰霉病菌、番茄早疫病菌和茄子灰霉病菌的抑制效果没有显著影响,但对辣椒疫病菌和黄瓜炭疽病菌的抑制效果影响显著;新鲜猪场沼液滤液对番茄灰霉病菌和茄子灰霉病菌有较强的抑制作用,沼液滤液贮存对番茄灰霉病菌和茄子灰霉病菌的抑菌效果没有显著影响。     

沼液的定价方法及其应用效果研究

为了探索沼液的商品化,采用养分含量定价和应用效果定价2种方法确定了沼液的价格,并分析了沼液施用后对土壤基本理化性状的影响作用。结果发现:采用养分含量定价法得到的沼液价格为78.12元/m³,采用沼液应用效果定价法得到的沼液的价格为111.4元/ m³;沼液的实际应用价值要明显高于其养分含量的市场价;沼液施用后可降低土壤容重,增加土壤孔隙度,增加土壤有机质、土壤全氮、土壤有效磷及有效钾含量,有利于土壤肥力的保持。     

一株多环芳烃降解菌及其在多种强化体系中降解菲的潜力

多环芳烃是一类普遍的环境污染物,因其潜在的环境暴露和对人类健康的危害而备受关注。从石化品污染土壤样品中分离到一株以菲为唯一碳源和能源的中温菌 (15–37 ℃,最佳30 ℃) 菌株CFP312。经菌落和菌体形态观察、生理生化测试和16S rRNA同源性分析鉴定属于莫拉氏菌Moraxella sp.。这是Moraxella属中多环芳烃降解菌种的首次报道。研究表明,当菲浓度为400 mg/L时,在48 h和60 h时,菲的去除率分别为84%和90%,降解速率达到1.21、1.29 mg/(L·h)。在菲的降解过程中,检测到3,4-二氢-3,4-二羟基菲为中间产物。据此推断降解菌通过在菲的3,4位进行双加氧完成其生物降解的第一个关键步骤。在水-有机溶剂两相分配体系、胶束水溶液体系和浊点体系中检测了降解菌对不同的菲强化降解体系的适应性。结果表明,降解菌对不同降解体系都表现出了良好的适应性。另外,降解菌可在泥浆-水体系中快速降解污染土壤中的多环芳烃菲,表明其在环境修复方面具有很大的应用潜力。     

Treatment by acidification followed by solid–liquid separation affects slurry and slurry fractions composition and their potential of N mineralization

The aim of the present work was to assess the effect of treatments by acidification, solid–liquid separation or acidification followed by solid–liquid separation on the physical and chemical composition of pig slurry (S) and pig slurry fractions (non acidified and acidified solid (SF and ASF) and liquid (LF and ALF) fractions), as well as on the potential of N mineralization of these pig slurry derived materials. Acidification strongly decrease the inorganic carbon content of S, SF and LF and it also affects the distribution of P, Ca and Mg between the solid and liquid fraction leading to an ALF more equilibrated than LF in terms of nutrients. Acidification increases the potential of organic N mineralization in SF and decreases the potential of N immobilization in S and LF. It can be concluded that the proposed treatment generates valuable slurry fractions with distinct characteristics and potential of N mineralization that may be incorporated to soil at different periods after sowing to comply with plant nutrient requirements.     

微生物能源的转化效率和经济可行性研究

生物质能源在中国,尤其是农村地区是一种十分重要的能源,然而,目前和将来油气资源的缺乏不仅影响国民经济的发展,而且危及能源安全。估算了4种最具应用前景的微生物能源包括微生物柴油,生物乙醇,氢气和沼气,并讨论了经济可行性及使用前景。其诣在帮助发展将生物质转化为燃料的技术,而此项技术对中国经济的发展具有重要的意义。