All living organisms use a multitude of elements to maintain their biological functions. This includes the 11 so-called macro elements like carbon, oxygen, iron or calcium, which are indispensible for all organisms. However, trace elements are also important, for example several metals for redox reactions. The type and amount required vary greatly, depending on the type of organism.
Trace elements ensure optimum fermentation
As the name indicates, trace elements are often only contained in low quantities in plants or animals. We humans therefore take food supplements to compensate for any deficiencies.
Organisms and their needs also play a central role in the fermenters of biogas plants. Fermentation consists of bacteria digesting biomass thereby releasing energy-rich gas (mainly methane). Renewable raw materials are often used as biomass such as corn or grass. However, they cannot provide a balanced environment for the methane-forming microorganisms (the so-called methanogenics). While renewable raw materials contain all the necessary carbon compounds as food, there are not always enough trace elements for optimum processing.
In order for a plant to be able to develop its full efficiency, it is therefore important to “artificially" add an exactly matched mixture of trace elements.
Organisms and their needs also play a central role in the fermenters of biogas plants. Fermentation consists of bacteria digesting biomass thereby releasing energy-rich gas (mainly methane). Renewable raw materials are often used as biomass such as corn or grass. However, they cannot provide a balanced environment for the methane-forming microorganisms (the so-called methanogenics). While renewable raw materials contain all the necessary carbon compounds as food, there are not always enough trace elements for optimum processing.
In order for a plant to be able to develop its full efficiency, it is therefore important to “artificially" add an exactly matched mixture of trace elements.
Less acetic acid – higher methane content
A sign of unbalanced environmental conditions in a fermenter is a higher content of “volatile organic acids” (VOA), such as vinegar, propionic acid or iso acids. The degradation of propionic acid is highly endergonic, which means energy is extracted from the substrate. However, the energy should be used as completely as possible in the formation of methane. Iso acids are created by the methylation of propionic and butyric acid – they thus result in a lowering of the methane concentration. Through the targeted addition of trace elements, the percentage of unwanted acids is reduced and more methane forms.
The environmental conditions are thus decisive for smooth and efficient fermentation, which in short means a high level of process stability. The quotient of the content of volatile organic acids (FOS) and total organic carbon (TOC) mentioned above serves as a guideline for the process stability. The lower the quotient, the more stable the fermentation. The following illustration shows the positive effect of the trace element mixture on process stability.
The environmental conditions are thus decisive for smooth and efficient fermentation, which in short means a high level of process stability. The quotient of the content of volatile organic acids (FOS) and total organic carbon (TOC) mentioned above serves as a guideline for the process stability. The lower the quotient, the more stable the fermentation. The following illustration shows the positive effect of the trace element mixture on process stability.
The trace elements must match the fermenter`s conditions
The environment is different in each fermenter. Depending on the type and origin of the substrate, it contains different elements in different concentrations. Therefore, simply adding a generic amount of any trace elements is not very expedient, or could even be counterproductive. First of all, we precisely analyse the environmental conditions and the substrate in your fermenter before we individually compile the exactly required mixture of trace elements for you. Therefore ProEn Trace Elements are not a generic solution. That is the only way to significantly increase the efficiency of your plant. Due to the individual composition, we achieve a positive effect even with very small doses (approx. 0.7 kg per day for a 500 kW plant). ProEn Trace Elements thus results in good, above-average cost effectiveness.
Documented success
Since its market launch in 2006, we have used ProEn Trace Elements successfully in many plants, and can therefore demonstrate a considerable increase to the CHP plant utilisation.
The addition of trace elements is usually the first step in process optimisation. Our team, however, has far more in stock to ensure that your fermenter reaches full potential. You can read about what else we can do for you here.
The addition of trace elements is usually the first step in process optimisation. Our team, however, has far more in stock to ensure that your fermenter reaches full potential. You can read about what else we can do for you here.
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