A07/10 Energetic and substantial integration of a biogas plant using distiller's wash at a bioethanol plant

01.09.2009 - 28.02.2012
Research funding project
The presented project aims to achieve an optimal energetic integration of the biogas plant and to recycle the produced process flows into the bioethanol plant. An innovative process scheme is tested with sustainable, ecological and economic advantages. One of the key issues is to close process flows and nutrient flows in the entire process by the recovery of energy. The ultimate aim will be to achieve an almost ¿zero emission¿-process. Preceding experiments showed that thin stillage is suited best for anaerobic digestion at an ethanol plant. The reduction of fossil energy required improves the life cycle assessment of the produced biofuel, decreases the dependence on fossil fuel imports and curbs energy costs. To achieve a high throughput anaerobic digestion, however, a step to decrease the concentration of ammonia in the process is needed. Therefore the two strategies aerobic nitrogen reduction and ammonia stripping (via flash application) are integrated into anaerobic digestion and evaluated. Another advantage of integrating an anaerobic digestion of thin stillage into the process is that according to the demand of animal feed it can be decided how much thin stillage is dried to animal feed and how much is digested to biogas.

People

Project leader

Project personnel

Institute

Grant funds

  • FFG - Österr. Forschungsförderungs- gesellschaft mbH (National) Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)

Research focus

  • Climate Neutral, Renewable and Conventional Energy Supply Systems: 50%
  • Efficient Utilisation of Material Resources: 50%

Keywords

GermanEnglish
Biogasbiogas
BioethanolproduktionBioethanolproduction

Publications