Methane Production from Agricultural and Domestic Wastes

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. Introduction

   • P. N. Hobson, S. Bousfield, R. Summers

   Pages 1-3

3. Methods of Production of Fuels from Biomass

   • P. N. Hobson, S. Bousfield, R. Summers

   Pages 4-9

4. The Microbiology and Biochemistry of Anaerobic Digestion

   • P. N. Hobson, S. Bousfield, R. Summers

   Pages 10-51

5. Types of Digesters: Theoretical Aspects and Modelling of Digester Systems and Deviations from Theory

   • P. N. Hobson, S. Bousfield, R. Summers

   Pages 52-90

6. Types of Digesters Being Constructed and the Operation of Digesters

   • P. N. Hobson, S. Bousfield, R. Summers

   Pages 91-163

7. Uses of Digested Sludge

   • P. N. Hobson, S. Bousfield, R. Summers

   Pages 164-180

8. Biogas Production—Laboratory and Pilot-plant Experiments

   • P. N. Hobson, S. Bousfield, R. Summers

   Pages 181-222

9. Energy Production by Practical-scale Digesters

   • P. N. Hobson, S. Bousfield, R. Summers

   Pages 223-251

10. Back Matter

    Pages 252-269

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This volume in the Energy from Wastes Series covers the area of methane production from agricultural and domestic wastes. Principally this involves the conversion of excreta and other organic effluents to a valuable gaseous fuel plus, in many cases, a useful sludge for fertiliser or feedstuffs. Dr Hobson and his colleagues have written a comprehensive text on the principles of microbiological processes and the biochemistry of anaerobic digestion, embracing the design of digesters with examples of current working installations. The potential for anaerobic digestion of wastes as diverse as sewage to fruit processing effluents is also reviewed. This work should be of interest to all who have to manage organic waste treatment and disposal, as well as to a wider readership who wish to know more about methane production by anaerobic digestion. ANDREW PORTEOUS v Preface The production of methane, or more exactly, a flammable 'biogas' containing methane and carbon dioxide, by microbiological methods ('anaerobic digestion') is not new. The reactions have been in industrial use for over a hundred years, but only in sewage purification processes. In some times of national stress, such as war-time, the microbiological production of gas purely for fuel has been investigated, but with the resumption of plentiful su pplies of fossil fuels the investigations have faded awa y.

• bacteria
• carbohydrates
• energy
• experiment
• growth
• interaction
• microbiology
• modeling

• Microbiology Department, Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, UK

  P. N. Hobson, S. Bousfield, R. Summers

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