Pilot study on employing Spartina alterniflora as material for producing biogas by biogasification

Spartina alterniflora as an invader, has been suffered many censures from public. But as resource, Spartina alterniflora has not been attended. This paper reported a trial, which employed Spartina alterniflora as material for manufacturing biogas, and explored possibility of Spartina alterniflora as resource. Two groups of test were set-up, one was mesophilic temperature group(MTG), and the other was normal temperature group(NTG). MTG was done for 45 days and its temperature was (35±2)℃. NTG was done for 86 days, and its temperature changed from 15℃ to 33℃ along with temperature in the room. The results show: (1) Spartina alterniflora is a better material for biogasification, biogas yield per gram total solid(BYTS) and biogas yield per gram volatility solid(BYVS) arrived at 0.20～0.22 L/g and 0.21～0.23 L/g separately; (2) Temperature rather affected the efficiency of Spartina alterniflora biogasification, biogas yield per gram material was 4.58 mL/(g·d) from MTG, but 2.54 mL/(g·d) from NTG, notability difference existed in them; (3) Temperature less affected the potential of Spartina alterniflora biogasification, BYTS and BYVS were 0.20 L/g and 0.22 L/g from MTG, 0.21 L/g and 0.23 L/g from NTG, no-remarkable difference existed in them; (4) The capacity of pH value buffer was very strong in digestion system of Spartina alterniflora, and alkalinity matter was not demanded for neutralizing excess acid. In process of the trial, pH value of two groups were both about 7, neither appeared excessive acid. As a result, it is hopeful that Spartina alterniflora becomes a very potential resource plant for obtaining bio-energy by means of biogasification.