Teaching Bioengineering: The Anaerobic Digester Scotch Plains Fanwood High School, Scotch Plains, NJ National Science Foundation under Grant No. EEC-1009797 Abstract Methods Results-Digester Performance Conclusion Rutgers University Research Experience for Teachers in Engineering (RU RET-E) The project compared methane generation by anaerobic digestion of different types of animal farm waste, alone as well as comingled with other types of biomass, with potential energy and waste treatment applications for livestock, poultry and agricultural facilities. Centralized neutralization, processing, and conversion of potentially toxic biomass into usable fuel forms, holds tremendous economic, environmental and societal benefits. A batch of 21 anaerobic digesters was set up with biomass feedstock triplicates of the following compositions: horse manure, donkey manure, poultry manure, horse manure and woodchips, straw, 50/50 straw and horse manure, and pure sucrose. An innoculum of methanogenic microorganisms from the Elizabeth Waste Water Treatment Plant was added to each digester bottle. Additionally, a triplicate of control digesters was set up without a substrate. The experiments were run with 100 ml of innoculum and a back calculated ratio of Fixed Solids for each digester. Methane production was monitored following inoculation, and during incubation in mesophilic conditions at 35˚C, over the course of 17 days. Donna E. Fennell Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Department of Environmental Sciences Anaerobic Digestion of Equine Stall Waste B. Wartell, V. Krumins, R. George, J. Alt, B. Schwab, K. Kang and D. E. Fennell Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ . 2008 http://www.paksc.org/bio-energy/bio-gas-plant.html Acknowledgments •A great thanks to Dr. Donna Fennel for her mentorship, overview of the field and integration into the daily workings of the Environmental Science Bioengineering laboratories. •A great thanks to Sunirat Rattanna, Amanda Luther and Val Krumins for daily guidance, modeling and technical assistance with protocols, procedures and equipment. •A great thanks to Dr. Evelyn Laffey and Dr. Kimberly Cook for their dedication to making RU RET-E program a success. The above results show that poultry waste generates more methane in early phases of anaerobic digestion, making it an economically efficient source of bioenergy. Its current uses as fertilizer might therefore be diversified to generate methane thereby also minimizing bacterial contamination. Straw and sucrose show uniform and consistent production rates, demonstrating their possible uses as additives to regulate the anaerobic digestion process. Wood chip and manure mixtures show poorer results possibly due to smaller surface areas and varied rates of lignin and cellulose break down. Finally, donkey and horse manures demonstrate significant rates of methane production supporting the development technologies for centralized and local livestock waste processing and biogas production. Our project, modeled on others in Dr. Fennel’s RU Bioengineering laboratory explores the application of anaerobic digestion as a step in centralized animal waste processing, thereby maximizing the value of this type of biomass and minimizing its negative impact on the environment. Ongoing work is examining the effects of different substrates, stimulators and inhibitors, as well as varied microbial community profiles on the processes of Methanogenesis. Additionally, the effects of combining food waste with manure to buffer acidification, and •How do different animal wastes compare in methane production? •How does the addition of straw to animal manure effect methane production? A naerobic D igestion Pathw ay A cetate H 2 + CO 2 CH 4 + C O 2 Com plex Polym ers M onom ers Propionate B utyrate Succinate A lcohols A cetate A cetate H 2 + CO 2 Polysaccharides L ipids P roteins Hydrolysis Hydrolytic and cellulolytic bacteria Fermentation Fermentative bacteria S ugars, fatty acids, amino acids Fermentation Anaerobic O xidation Obligate Proton-Reducing Bacteria (syntrophs) Acetogenesis Homo-acetogens Acetotrophic Methanogens Methanogenesis Acetotrophic Methanogens Methanogenesis Hydrogenotrophic Methanogens C oupled m icrobial processes leading to the conversion ofcom plex organic biom ass to m ethane (adapted from M cCarty,1964). Acetotrophic Methanogens Methanogenesis manure 1 5.005 0.7528 182636. 6 3.28E+0 1 105 3.45E+0 1 3.27E+0 1 4.47E+0 1 205034 37.0626 7 104 38.545 18 36.7751 8 6.95E+0 1 8.07E+0 1 191718. 5 34.5552 3 39 13.4765 4 13.0465 4 7.07E+0 1 8.19E+0 1 235740. 7 42.8450 4 popped manure 2 5.0174 0.7528 191624 3.45E+0 1 105 3.63E+0 1 3.45E+0 1 201049. 8 36.3124 1 106 38.491 15 36.7211 5 7.12E+0 1 192303. 3 34.6653 5 37 12.8261 8 12.3961 8 7.26E+0 1 217915. 7 39.4884 2 popped manure 3 5.0508 0.7528 193238. 7 3.48E+0 1 197 6.86E+0 1 6.69E+0 1 197896. 3 35.7185 7 102 36.432 94 34.6629 4 1.02E+0 2 158065. 4 28.2180 3 37 10.4406 7 10.0106 7 1.02E+0 2 212688. 2 38.5040 3 popped m + sh 4 7.0007 0.6469 100011. 6 1.73E+0 1 32 5.53E+0 0 3.76E+0 0 2.62E+0 0 146371. 2 26.0158 9 23 5.9836 55 4.21365 5 7.98E+0 0 7.04E+0 0 135500. 2 23.9687 8 7 1.67781 4 1.24781 4 2.08E+0 1 1.94E+0 1 15939.6 1.45435 4 10 0.14543 5 - 3.89456 1.69E+0 1 1.73E+0 1 m + sh 5 7.5092 0.6469 96255.6 1.66E+0 1 25 4.14E+0 0 2.37E+0 0 139632. 7 24.7469 7 27 6.6816 81 4.91168 1 7.29E+0 0 145712. 1 25.8917 8 7 1.81242 4 1.38242 4 2.10E+0 1 147449. 5 26.2189 5 12 3.14627 4 - 0.89373 2.01E+0 1 m + sh 6 7.027 0.6469 93202.7 1.60E+0 1 22 3.52E+0 0 1.75E+0 0 143998. 5 25.5690 9 23 5.8808 91 4.11089 1 5.86E+0 0 127260. 7 22.4172 6 1.34503 2 0.91503 2 1.62E+0 1 142607 25.3070 6 10 2.53070 6 - 1.50929 1.47E+0 1 poultr y 7 3.0316 0.4348 168576. 8 3.02E+0 1 popped popped popped 5.06E+0 1 198430. 5 35.8191 7 197 70.563 76 68.7937 6 #VALUE! 1.24E+0 2 175496. 8 31.5005 3 42 13.2302 2 12.8002 2 #VALUE! 1.36E+0 2 189182. 3 34.0776 4 43 14.6533 9 10.6133 9 #VALUE! 1.46E+0 2 poultr y 8 2.9922 0.4348 167126. 9 2.99E+0 1 178 5.33E+0 1 5.15E+0 1 202768. 4 36.6360 3 202 74.004 79 72.2347 9 1.24E+0 2 187587. 7 33.7773 6 42 14.1864 9 13.7564 9 1.36E+0 2 184496 33.1951 6 44 14.6058 7 10.5658 7 1.46E+0 2 poultr y 9 3.039 0.4348 167758. 2 3.00E+0 1 171 5.14E+0 1 4.96E+0 1 139954. 7 24.8076 popped #VALUE ! #VALUE! #VALUE! 159224. 9 28.4363 7 38 10.8058 2 10.3758 2 #VALUE! 181226. 9 32.5795 6 60 19.5477 4 15.5077 4 #VALUE! donkey 10 4.5166 0.6748 147746. 5 2.63E+0 1 82 2.15E+0 1 1.98E+0 1 1.94E+0 1 190389. 4 34.3049 5 149 51.114 37 49.3443 7 6.91E+0 1 6.58E+0 1 168954. 6 30.2685 7 40 12.1074 3 11.6774 3 7.43E+0 1 7.17E+0 1 190952 34.4108 9 60 20.6465 4 16.6065 4 9.09E+0 1 8.71E+0 1 donkey 11 4.502 0.6748 140080 2.48E+0 1 80 1.99E+0 1 1.81E+0 1 189840. 9 34.2016 6 141 48.224 34 46.4543 4 6.45E+0 1 179389. 6 32.2335 8 39 12.5711 12.1411 7.09E+0 1 190738 34.3705 9 52 17.8727 1 13.8327 1 8.47E+0 1 donkey 12 4.524 0.6748 156509. 8 2.79E+0 1 79 2.21E+0 1 2.03E+0 1 187939. 3 33.8435 7 134 45.350 39 43.5803 9 6.39E+0 1 182955. 5 32.9050 7 39 12.8329 8 12.4029 8 7.00E+0 1 197984. 1 35.7351 55 19.6543 1 15.6143 1 8.56E+0 1 sucros e 25 0.3 1 150727. 2 2.68E+0 1 142 3.81E+0 1 3.63E+0 1 4.00E+0 1 170925. 6 30.6397 3 88 26.962 96 25.1929 6 6.15E+0 1 7.04E+0 1 157798. 7 28.1678 20 5.63356 1 5.20356 1 7.20E+0 1 8.03E+0 1 193550. 7 34.9002 5 51 17.7991 3 13.7591 3 8.57E+0 1 9.59E+0 1 sucros e 26 0.3 1 153029. 2 2.73E+0 1 132 3.60E+0 1 3.42E+0 1 175827. 5 31.5628 90 28.406 52 26.6365 2 6.09E+0 1 171086. 3 30.6699 9 22 6.74739 7 6.31739 7 6.93E+0 1 184128. 5 33.1259 6 64 21.2006 1 17.1606 1 8.65E+0 1 sucros e 27 0.3 1 187735. 7 3.38E+0 1 141 4.77E+0 1 4.59E+0 1 181933. 2 32.7125 6 137 44.816 21 43.0462 1 8.89E+0 1 166613. 2 29.8276 6 22 6.56208 5 6.13208 5 9.97E+0 1 197657. 6 35.6736 2 56 19.9772 3 15.9372 3 1.16E+0 2 straw 16 1.128 0.98 147163. 4 2.62E+0 1 110 2.88E+0 1 2.70E+0 1 3.27E+0 1 184621. 5 33.2188 popped #VALUE ! #VALUE! #VALUE! 6.68E+0 1 177846. 9 31.9430 7 34 10.8606 5 10.4306 5 #VALUE! 8.01E+0 1 174928. 7 31.3935 5 70 21.9754 8 17.9354 8 #VALUE! 1.02E+0 2 straw 17 1.0004 0.98 153306. 5 2.73E+0 1 132 3.61E+0 1 3.43E+0 1 164438. 8 29.4182 85 25.005 47 23.2354 7 5.75E+0 1 176486. 1 31.6868 2 28 8.87231 8.44231 7.00E+0 1 199203. 5 35.9647 3 67 24.0963 7 20.0563 7 9.00E+0 1 straw 18 1.2458 0.98 163310 2.92E+0 1 132 3.86E+0 1 3.68E+0 1 180861. 5 32.5107 5 126 40.963 55 39.1935 5 7.60E+0 1 158650. 1 28.3281 3 39.5 11.1896 1 10.7596 1 9.02E+0 1 193492. 4 34.8892 7 78 27.2136 3 23.1736 3 1.13E+0 2 manure +str 19 2.014 0.865 189370 3.41E+0 1 138 4.71E+0 1 4.53E+0 1 4.42E+0 1 183323. 1 32.9743 150 49.461 44 47.6914 4 9.30E+0 1 8.80E+0 1 165927. 3 29.6985 39 11.5824 1 11.1524 1 9.31E+0 1 8.80E+0 1 126231. 9 22.2234 7 4 0.88893 9 - 3.15106 9.00E+0 1 8.47E+0 1 manure +str 20 2.2695 0.865 183027. 8 3.29E+0 1 136 4.48E+0 1 4.30E+0 1 171720. 6 30.7894 3 124 38.178 9 36.4089 7.94E+0 1 171074. 2 30.6677 1 42 12.8804 4 12.4504 4 7.93E+0 1 103748. 8 17.9896 8 4 0.71958 7 - 3.32041 7.59E+0 1 manure +str 21 2.7813 0.865 158908. 1 2.84E+0 1 162 4.60E+0 1 4.42E+0 1 163422. 1 29.2267 4 168 49.100 93 47.3309 3 9.15E+0 1 169886. 1 30.4439 8 48 14.6131 1 14.1831 1 9.16E+0 1 100516. 7 17.3810 4 4 0.69524 2 - 3.34476 8.82E+0 1 contro l 22 0 73426.2 1.23E+0 1 15 1.84E+0 0 7.19E- 02 100908. 6 17.4548 4 13 2.2691 3 0.49913 5.71E- 01 -2.76E- 03 107073. 1 18.6156 8 3 0.55847 0.12847 #VALUE! -4.78E- 01 166887. 3 29.8792 7 12 3.58551 3 - 0.45449 #VALUE! -2.94E- 01 contro l 23 0 75307.8 1.26E+0 1 14 1.77E+0 0 -1.25E- 03 82133.5 13.9193 1 12 1.6703 17 - 0.09968 -1.01E- 01 80957.1 13.6977 8 2 0.27395 6 - 0.15604 #VALUE! 172702. 4 30.9743 1 14 4.33640 4 0.29640 4 #VALUE! contro l 24 0 77490.3 1.30E+0 1 13 1.70E+0 0 -7.42E- 02 80741.5 13.6571 8 10 1.3657 18 - 0.40428 -4.78E- 01 89109.2 15.2329 3 0.45698 7 0.02698 7 -4.78E- 01 168449. 7 30.1734 9 14 4.22428 9 0.18428 9 -2.94E- 01 g substra t %VS/100 Day 5 Day 5 Day 5 Day 5 Day 5 Day 5 Day 10 Day 10 Day 10 Day 10 Day 10 Day 10 Day 10 Day 12 Day 12 Day 12 Day 12 Day 12 Day 12 Day 12 Day 17 Day 17 Day 17 Day 17 Day 17 Day 17 Day 17 total wei PA %CH4 Actual ml ml CH4 ml- control Average PA %CH4 Actual ml ml CH4 ml - control total Average PA %CH4 Actual ml ml CH4 ml- control ml/g VS Average PA % CH4 Actual ml ml CH4 ml- control ml/g VS Average Digester Sampling and Analyses Comparing Levels of Methane for Varied Substrates Biogas Production Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection Methane Content Water displacement Solid Weight Analysis References Students will complete a three week unit on bioengineering. Students will learn bioenergy vocabulary and current microorganism technologies. Students will apply complete an engineering resume detailing skills and education. Students will learn about simple third world biogas digesters. Students will diagram parts and properties of digester components using flow charts. Students will substitute Home Depot equipment for the flow chart components. Students will submit a proposal with a pricelist for their design. Design voted best will be funded, built and tested. Batch reactors in triplicate: • Specific amount of horse manure volatile solids (g VS) • Inoculated with municipal mesophilic anaerobic digester sludge • Mixed and incubated at 35C • Methane production compared for different substrates Teaching Bioengineering RU RET-E Participant: Elena A. Podgorny Faculty Advisor: Dr. Donna Fennell Graduate Student Mentors: S. Rattana, A. Luther, V. Krumis