Master of Science (MS)
in
Paper Engineering
Research
State University of New York
College of Environmental Science and Forestry
(SUNY-ESF)
My past MS Research investigated the production of biogas from the anaerobic digestion of office paper with cow manure in a batch reactor. This research examined which ratio of substrate (office paper) to seed (cow manure) produced the most biogas as well as the viability of a Time Lag Model to represent the biogas production curve compared to models established in the literature.
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My Research Questions were:
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What is the ideal ratio of office paper to cow manure to produce the most biogas?
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What is the viability of the Time-Lag, No-Lag, Modified Gompertz, and Modified Logistic models to represent biogas production in this system?
Initial Study: Monodigestion
The first stage experimentation involved the development of the initial batch reactor vessel and testing of biogas production with six treatment levels. The reactor collects biogas in the headspace and is pulled via a gravity-based siphon out of the headspace during the sampling period. The volume of the displaced water collected is measured to determine the volume of biogas produced.
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Two treatments were examined to create six treatment levels:
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Temperature: 33 degrees Celsius, 38.5 degrees Celsius
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Total Solids Content: 4%, 5%, 6%
Codigestion Conditions Informed by Monodigestion
Based upon the results of the Monodigestion studies, the treatment conditions of 6% total solids at 38.5 degrees Celsius produced the most biogas. The Time-Lag model also had the best fit based upon Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) compared to the other four models under these conditions. Therefore, this treatment was carried into the Codigestion experimentation.
Model Fits of Monodigestion Data from the "Modeling Biogas Production from the Anaerobic Digestion of Cow Manure" Poster.
Codigestion of Office Paper and Cow Manure
The codigestion of Office Paper and Cow Manure occurred at 38.5 degrees Celsius with six treatment levels:
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Substrate (Paper) to Inoculum (Manure) Ratios (based on Total Solids)
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1:5, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, and 5:1
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Control: 0:6 (6% Manure, 0% Paper)​
Overall, the substrate to inoculum ratio of 2:1 produced the greatest cumulative volume of biogas. ​Biogas production declined at the 5:1 ratio.
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The Modified Gompertz model had the best fit to most of the treatment levels compared to the other models based upon the RMSE values. However, no singular model had the best fit for all treatment levels. The Time-Lag model did not have the best fit for any treatment level compared to the other models.
Additional Research Photos
(Click the Image for a Larger View)
 Initial Monodigestion Experiment to determine apparatus setup. |  One of the cow manure samples used for experimentation. |  Hot water bath used for incubation of anaerobic digester flasks. |
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 Blended office paper used for codigestion of office paper and cow manure. |  Cow manure and office paper combined prior to dilution. |  Extra sealing of the flasks with Parafilm to prevent leakages and opening of the digester from pressure. |
 Codigestion flasks of office paper and cow manure in the incubation bath with the water displacement system. |  Samples of Cow Manure, Office Paper (Blended) and Office Paper (Wiley Mill Ground) from the experiment. |
Relevant Course Work
Mathematics and Computer Computations | Management and Writing | Chemical, Biological, Physical, and Environmental Sciences | Basic and Advanced Engineering |
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Six Sigma Yellow Belt Training | Principles of Management for Environmental Professionals | Physical Cell Biology | Chemical Reaction Engineering |
Statistical Analysis | Career Strategies for Women in Environmental Professions | Cell Biology Recitation | |
Experimental Design and Analysis of Variance | Writing for Scientific Publications | Foundations of Environmental Health | |
Biorenewable Fibrous and Non-Fibrous Products | |||
Microbial Ecology | |||
Introduction to Lignocellulosics |