Methane production from stillage

Abstract

By-products from production of alcohol distilling dregs (stillage) contain much organic matter, therefore could be useful for the production of biogas. The purpose of the study is assessment of the methane volume obtainable from stillage in the anaerobic fermentation process. Investigation was provided in 16 bioreactors operated in batch mode at 38 °C. Stillage was filled into 14 bioreactors and only inoculum was filled into two bioreactors for control. The yield of biogas was 0.616 l•g-1DOM and methane 0.360 l•g-1DOM after 37 days of anaerobic digestion. The investigated average methane content in biogas from stillage was 58.5 %. The study demonstrates that stillage is a good raw material for the production of methane.