EVALUATION OF METHANE CONVERSION RATE OF SOLID BIOMASS VIA COD_Cr ANALYSIS FOR INTRODUCING ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

Abstract

 Methane conversion rate of biomass should be evaluated before methane fermentation of solid biomass. In this study, a simple COD_Cr analysis method based on ‘Testing Methods for Fertilizers’ was proposed, and the COD_Cr values of 142 biomasses were compared with those obtained using JIS. The proposed method showed higher COD_Cr values than conventional methods, especially for high-solid biomasses. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) was measured by a batch experiment. A distinct correlation was observed among the methane conversion rates based on the COD_Cr values obtained by the proposed method and the carbon content. These results indicate that the proposed method can evaluate methane production from solid biomass for introducing methane fermentation process.