[Digestion] Digestion Digest, Vol 5, Issue 9

[Duncan Martin]

Quite. And UASB is an excellent system for largely soluble substrates

But "syntropic populations in close proximity" is also a feature of the 
"reaction front mechanism" that I have proposed as a (the?) major mechanism 
in a packed bed of solids (eg a landfill).

One key difference is that in UASB the substrate flows through the reaction 
zone, whereas the reaction front mechanism postulates a reaction zone that 
moves through the substrate - just like decay through wood.

Several list members have asked for copies of my papers on this concept. 
Unfortunately, I have just moved house and most of them are on my old 
laptop, which is still stuck at my old house. The best I can do now is 
provide some references. There are quite a lot, so readers should be able to 
access a few of them without too much trouble. I should be able to email 
copies (or post hard copies) in a few weeks.

(NB The earlier papers refer to a 'Microreactor' but I soon changed to the 
term 'Reaction Front' because it was clearer. However, the underlying 
concepts are the same.)

Most useful papers

Martin, D. J. 2000. "A novel mathematical model of solid-state digestion" 
Biotechnology Letters 22:91-94.

Martin, D. J. 2001 "The site of reaction in solid-state digestion: a new 
hypothesis", Trans. I. Chem. E. 79 (B1): 29-37.

Martin, D.J., Potts, L.G.A., and Heslop, V.A. 2003. "Reaction Mechanisms In 
Solid-State Anaerobic Digestion: I. The Reaction Front Hypothesis." Trans. 
I. Chem. E. 81 (B3): 171-180.

Martin, D.J., Potts, L.G.A., and Heslop, V.A. 2003 "Reaction Mechanisms In 
Solid-State Anaerobic Digestion: II. The Significance Of Seeding." Trans. I. 
Chem. E., 81 (B3): 181-188.

Martin, D.J., and Xue, E. 2003 "The Reaction Front Hypothesis in Solid-State 
Digestion: a Method of Predicting the Thickness of the Buffer Layer." Appl. 
Biochem. & Biotechnol., 109: 155-166.



Other papers

Martin, D. J. 1999. "Mass-transfer limitations in solid-state digestion", 
Biotechnology Letters 21:809-814.

Martin, D. J., 2001. "Accelerated biogas production without leachate 
recycle." Renewable Energy 24:535-538.

Martin, D.J. 2003. "Thickness of the buffer layer in the 'reaction front' 
model of solid-state digestion." Waste Management Journal, 23: 411-417

Martin, D.J. 2003. "Seeding Methods For Landfills & Semi-Dry Digesters", 
Engineering and the Protection of the Environment, Poland, (9: 123-131)



Conference proceedings

Martin, D. J. 1999. "Mass transfer limitations in anaerobic composting and 
their implications for seeding practice." In 4th European Biosolids and 
Organic Residuals Conference, 236-248. November, Wakefield, UK.

Martin, D. J. 2000. "A new model of the landfill process" In Proceedings of 
93rd Annual conference of the Air and Waste Management Association, #209. 
June, Salt Lake City, USA.

Martin, D. J. 2000. "Accelerated biogas production without leachate 
recycle." World Renewable Energy Congress. July, Brighton, UK.

Martin, D. J. 2000. "Seed spacing in solid-state digestion." In Wastecon 
2000, 235-243. September, Cape Town, RSA.

Martin, D. J. 2000. "Accelerated digestion of solid wastes without leachate 
recycle." In Waste 2000, 239-246. October, Stratford-on-Avon. UK.

Martin, D. J. 2001. "Micro-reactor development in landfills". 94th Annual 
Conference of the Air & Waste Management Association, June 24-28th, Orlando, 
Florida.

Martin, D. J., 2001. "A Micro-Reactor Model Of Solid-State Digestion." 9th 
World Congress 'Anaerobic Digestion 2001', Antwerp, 2-6th September, 2: 
115-117.

Martin, D. J. & Potts, L. G. A., 2001. "A Micro-Reactor Model of Solid-State 
Digestion" in "The Sustainable Landfill" (Proceedings of the Eight 
International Waste Management & Landfill Symposium, Oct 1-5th, Cagliari, 
Italy), ed T H Christensen, R Cossu & R Stegmann, 1:139-148.

Martin, D.J. 2002. "A Parallel Mechanism in Biomethanation: Solid-Phase 
Digestion.". 7th FAO/SREN Workshop on (Waste) Water Treatment, Moscow, May 
2002.

Martin, D.J. 2002 "Proposals for the Experimental Verification of a 
'Reaction Front' Mechanism in the Anaerobic Digestion of Solids." ISWA 2002 
World Congress, Istanbul, July 2002. 3:1991-1998.

Martin, D.J. 2002. "A Method For Predicting The Buffer Layer Thickness in 
the 'Reaction Front' Model of Solid-State Digestion." ISWA World Congress, 
Istanbul, July 2002. 2:849-856.

Martin, D.J. 2003. "Seeding Methods For Landfills & Semi-Dry Digesters" 
Symposium on Renewable Energy Sources - New Insights into Sewage Sludge, 
Czestochowa, Poland, 2-4 February 2003. 1:171-185

Martin, D.J. 2003. "The thicknesses of the reaction zones in the 'reaction 
front' mechanism of solid-state anaerobic digestion", The Ninth 
International Waste Management & Landfill Symposium, Oct 6-10th, Cagliari, 
Sardinia, Italy. Paper Nr 127 (published on CD-ROM).

Martin, D. J. 2004. "Seeding Methods For Landfills & Semi-Dry Digesters". 
Conference on Biosolids and Organic Residuals. March 2004. Harrogate, 
England. 118-126.

Martin, D. J. 2004. "A Novel Seeding Method For Landfills", 19th Annual 
Conference on Solid Waste Management. March 2004. Widener University, 
Philadelphia, USA.




----- Original Message ----- 
From: <finstein at envsci.rutgers.edu>
To: "Duncan Martin" <duncanjmartin at eircom.net>
Cc: <digestion at listserv.repp.org>; <stuart at oaktech-environmental.com>
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 2:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Digestion] Digestion Digest, Vol 5, Issue 9


> Good "seeing" you too, Duncan.
>
> Well, I don't know if "laws of nature" are at play here. The rest of my
> response elaborates on Part 3 of the Critique noted in my original comment
> to the listserv community.
>
> It is that owing to its prolonged SRT, the UASB configuration induces the
> development of granualar consortia in which syntropic populations are in
> close proximity. (See especially: Speece et. al. 2006. Water Environment
> Research, Vol. 78, No. 5.) This form of microbial self-organization
> enhances speed and completeness in transforming organic matter to methane
> and other end products.
>
> But don't get me wrong. I am NOT suggesting this is the be-all and end-all
> of practical anaerobic digestion. On the contrary, UASB is applicable only
> to a highly industrial setting. I happen to be engaged in such a setting.
>
> My original comment remains true (I believe). This was that High Solids
> and High Rate are mutually exclusive.
>
> Regards to you, Duncan, and to the rest of the community.
>
> Mel
>
>
> Melvin S. Finstein, Ph.D.
> Emeritus Professor of Environmental Science
> Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
> Head, ArrowBio USA
>
> 105 Carmel Road
> Wheeling, WV 26003
> (304) 242-0341
> Email: finstein at envsci.rutgers.edu
> Skype: melvinfinstein
>
>
>> Good to hear from you again Mel - but I have a question for you....
>>
>> WHY are "High Solids and High Rates mutually exclusive"
>>
>> Is that a law of nature or just an artefact of how we've been doing 
>> things
>> up to now?
>>
>> Clearly, the highest rates will be obtained with 100% soluble substrates,
>> which are inherently incompatible with very high solids concns.
>>
>> However, for the SAME substrate, I am not convinced.
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Duncan J Martin
>>
>> Chair
>> Republic of Ireland Centre
>> Chartered Institution of Wastes Management,
>>
>> ================================
>> CONTACT DETAILS
>> Duncan J Martin, PhD, CEng, CSci, MIEI, MCIWM, MIChemE
>> 24 Townsfield, Cloughjordan, N Tipperary, Ireland
>> Mobile: +353 86 8377 906
>> Email: duncanjmartin at eircom.net
>> ================================
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <finstein at envsci.rutgers.edu>
>> To: <digestion at listserv.repp.org>
>> Cc: <stuart at oaktech-environmental.com>
>> Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 6:45 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Digestion] Digestion Digest, Vol 5, Issue 9
>>
>>
>> Greetings to all subscribers,
>>
>> Regarding "high solids content" digestors alluded to below, please note
>> that in fact High Solids and High Rates are mutually exclusive. The point
>> is thoroughly explored elsewhere: <www.oaktech-environmental.com> click 
>> on
>> "news & events", then click on the item dated 29 January 2006 - see
>> especially Part 3.
>>
>> The posted abstract on the Oaktech website reads:
>>
>> "ArrowBio USA Represented by Professor Melvin Finstein submitted his
>> response to the URS Reports on future waste technologies for Los Angeles.
>> Mel's response is critical to a report that bundles all anaerobic
>> digestion systems into the same category and discounts the clear benefits
>> of advanced anaerobic digestion."
>>
>> It might be noted that ArrowBio is a semi-finalist contender in Los
>> Angeles County and elsewhere. Much background material is given in the 29
>> January 2006 "Critique."
>>
>> Regards to all,
>>
>> Mel Finstein
>>
>>
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>>> Today's Topics:
>>>
>>>    1. high rate digester (AKBAR SHABANI)
>>>    2. Re: high rate digester (Bjorn Dahlroth)
>>>
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> Message: 1
>>> Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 21:05:27 -0800 (PST)
>>> From: AKBAR SHABANI <a_shabanikia at yahoo.com>
>>> Subject: [Digestion] high rate digester
>>> To: "ÔÈ~å È&#1740,æÇÒ&#1740," <digestion at listserv.repp.org>
>>> Message-ID: <20061111050527.66358.qmail at web52208.mail.yahoo.com>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>>>
>>> dear hi   I want to make digesteres  for biogas production from high
>>> concenterate matterial  with totale solides about 20-40 %.if it possible
>>> please help me
>>>
>>>   with thank
>>>   A - SHABANIKIA
>>
>>
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