Proceedings of the Second International Energy 2030 Conference,
November 4-5, 2008, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Removal of Fermentation Gases Accelerates Anaerobic Digestion to Methane

Richard A. Kohn
University of Maryland, USA

Abstract
Solar energy and waste products can be converted to fuels through microbial digestion and fermentation of biomass. Methane (CH₄) gas is one of the most efficiently produced biofuels. Current processes using microorganisms to digest biomass and produce CH₄ are slow and require large reactors. We are developing faster methods that use microorganisms from the first stomach chamber (rumen) of cows. These microorganisms readily digest plant fiber, and diluting and removing fermentation gases accelerates the digestion process further.