Evaluation of marine algae as a source of biogas in a two-stage anaerobic reactor system

• Published in: Biomass and Bioenergy
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Algas marinas; Biogas; Energía renovable; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10925/704; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2007.10.005

The marine algae are considered an important biomass source; however, their utilization as energy source is still low around the world. The technical feasibility of marine algae utilization as a source of renewable energy was studied to laboratory scale. The anaerobic digestion of Macrocystis pyrifera, Durvillea antarctica and their blend 1:1 (w/w) was evaluated in a two-phase anaerobic digestion system, which consisted of an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) and an upflow anaerobic filter (UAF). The results show that 70% of the total biogas produced in the system was generated in the UAF, and both algae species have similar biogas productions of 180.4(±1.5) mL g-1 dry algae d-1, with a methane concentration around 65%. The same methane content was observed in biogas yield of algae blend; however, a lower biogas yield was obtained. In conclusion, either algae species or their blend can be utilized to produce methane gas in a two-phase digestion system.