Biomethanation Potential of Wetland Biomass in Codigestion with Pig Slurry

Constructed wetlands represent an increasingly expanding technology for treatment and reuse of poor quality waters and for the development of marginal areas. The exploitation of herbaceous biomass for biogas production may add further appeal to its adoption. Codigestion of lignocellulosic plant materials with pig slurry could meet the need for biomass hydration and possibly improve biogas yields. The objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate the biomethanation potential of biomass from several species which are of interest for use in constructed wetlands, and its relationship with plant composition; (2) to evaluate the influence of codigestion of selected wetland species with pig slurry on methane production rate and yield. Biogas production was preliminarily measured in laboratory conditions using as substrates biomass samples belonging to 23 plant species coming from different environments. Eight of them were then tested for biogas production, alone or in codigestion with pig slurry (volatile solid ratio: 1/1). In monodigestion, CH4 yields were on average 213 mL CH4 g−1 volatile solids. Biogas production was positively related with N content and negatively with acid detergent fiber concentration and C to N ratio. The time for the joining of the maximum methane production was 25 % shorter and the amount of methane was 30 % higher for wetland biomass in codigestion with pig slurry than in monodigestion. The use of pig slurry as hydration medium for anaerobic digestion can improve the biomethanation potential of wetland biomass.