Abstract
The Institute of Gas Technology has developed a novel, solids-concentrating (SOLCON®) bioreactor to convert a variety of individual or mixed feedstocks (biomass and wastes) to methane at higher rates and efficiencies than those obtained from conventional high-rate anaerobic digesters. The biogasification studies are being conducted in a pilot-scale experimental test unit (ETU) located in the Walt Disney World Resort Complex, Orlando, FL.
This paper describes the ETU facility, the logistics of feedstock integration, the SOLCON reactor design and operating techniques, and the results obtained during 4 y of stable, uninterrupted operation with different feedstocks.
The SOLCON reactor consistently outperformed the conventional stirred-tank reactor by 20% to 50%.
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Srivastava, V.J., Biljetina, R., Isaacson, H.R. et al. Biogasification of community-derived biomass and solid wastes in a pilot-scale solcon® reactor. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 20, 587–602 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02936511
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02936511