Employment of maize silage in non-liquid fermentation for biogas production

This paper deals with the optimization of the anaerobic fermentation process of maize silage using the non-liquid technology. The aim of the paper is to increase the knowledge necessary for more efficient running of biogas stations using batch technology of non-liquid fermentation. The preferable ratio of initial materials, fresh maize silage and maize silage after partial fermentation, was verified within this experiment. Quantities and qualities of the produced biogas were monitored during the experiment. All the experiments were done in the batch-system fermentors (0.48 cubic m) equipped with an independent and indirect circuit of water heating, the heat was transferred to the material through the steel wall of the fermentor. The material was tested in mesophilic conditions at 38 deg C. The retention time of material in fermentors was 27 days. The results of our experiments reveal the fact that the maize silage of lower mix ratio produced about 22.8 % more of biogas counted to one kilogram of dry matter than the maize silage of higher mix ratio.