Peer-Reviewed Journal Details
Mandatory Fields
McEniry, J,Allen, E,Murphy, JD,O'Kiely, P
2014
March
Renewable Energy
Grass for biogas production: The impact of silage fermentation characteristics on methane yield in two contrasting biomethane potential test systems
Validated
WOS: 60 ()
Optional Fields
Grass silage Additive Preservation Aerobic stability Anaerobic digestion CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION ADDITIVES ENSILAGE CROPS
63
524
530
Grassland biomass is likely to be harvested and stored as silage to ensure a predictable quality and a constant supply of feedstock to an anaerobic digestion facility. Grass (Phleum pratense L. var. Erecta) was ensiled following the application of one of six contrasting additive treatments or a 6 h wilt treatment to investigate the effects of contrasting silage fermentation characteristics on CH4 yield. In general, silage fermentation characteristics had relatively little effect on specific CH4 yield (from 344 to 383 NI CH4 kg(-1) volatile solids). However, the high concentrations of fermentation products such as ethanol and butyric acid following clostridia] and heterofermentative lactic acid bacterial fermentations resulted in a numerically higher specific CH4 yield. While the latter fermentation products of undesirable microbial activity have the potential to enhance specific CH4 yield, the numerically higher specific CH4 yield may not compensate for the associated total solids and energy losses during ensiling. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
10.1016/j.renene.2013.09.052
Grant Details