Study of the acidogenic phase of the anaerobic fermentation of stillage from ethanol distilleries

Summary A bench scale continuously stirred reactor was used to study the acidogenic phase of the anaerobic fermentation of stillage. The residence time of the effluent in the reactor ranged from 15.7 to 8.2 hours, pH was around 5.0 and temperature was maintained at 35°C. The results indicate that the residence time had no appreciable effect on the production or composition of the organic acids. The main acid products found in the reactor effluent were acetic, propionic and butiric acids.