Feasibility of grass co-digestion in an agricultural digester, influence on process parameters and residue composition

Abstract

This study investigated the potential of co-digestion of grass clippings in a typical Flemish agro-digester characterized by an input of 30% manure, 30% maize silage and 40% side streams. No significant adverse effects in the microbiological functioning of the reactors were detected when part of the maize input was replaced by 10–20% grass. However at the highest dosage of grass input, dry matter content and the viscosity of the reactor content increased substantially. These parameters could be reduced again by enzyme addition in the form of MethaPlus L100. It can be concluded that co-digestion of 20% grass in an agricultural digester would not pose any problem if dry matter content and viscosity are improved by the use of an enzyme mixture.