[Digestion] Calculating methane production

[David Fulford]

Duncan and Mel, Hi

Don't stifle debate; the value of such a forum is the exchange of ideas, 
even basic ones.

For example, Mel's comment on how to translate calories into methane has 
got me thinking. I have a feeling that this is something worth chasing up 
on. It is possible to do this for a particular feedstock for which we have 
the chemical formula, by looking at the two routes of decomposition: i.e. 
combustion in oxygen to give calories and conversion to methane and carbon 
dioxide. I have a feeling that the calories listed on food labels are not 
exactly the same as the calories you would get if you burned them in air 
(not all of a food is digestible). However, it would be a good start.

Cheers,

David Fulford

At 07:32 04/05/2007 -0400, finstein at envsci.rutgers.edu wrote:
>Duncan -
>
>As you say (in effect): one man's junk (one microbe's metabolic waste) is
>another man's treasure (another microbe's substrate). But questioning the
>complexity of the metabolic web terminating in methane was not what
>started the thread. Rather, the question asked was - how to estimate
>methane production.
>
>Mel
>
>
> > Come on lads!!
> >
> > I might speak only for myself but I think it's an abuse of a forum like
> > this
> > for folk to use it as a replacement for ten minutes work in a half-decent
> > public library or on the internet. I'm more tolerant when the enquiry
> > comes
> > from somewhere remote. But I don't think the USA qualifies!
> >
> > For info, Steve, yes there is a mass of research and "a particularly good
> > methanogenic microbial community" is characterized by a great diversity of
> > species, very many of which are not methanogens. Now, go read!
> >
> > Fraternally yours
> >
> > 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
> > Home: +353 505 42087
> > Email: duncanjmartin at eircom.net
> > ================================
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Steve Verhey" <verheys at hotmail.com>
> > To: <finstein at envsci.rutgers.edu>; <digestion at listserv.repp.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 11:13 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Digestion] Calculating methane production
> >
> >
> >>
> >> Presumably not all organisms in an anaerobic environment are
> >> methanogens.
> >> Is
> >> there research on what a particularly good methanogenic microbial
> >> community
> >> looks like? Maybe it's even possible to make an inoculum that would get
> >> things started off in the right direction?
> >>
> >> Steve Verhey, Ph.D
> >> Biologist at Large
> >> Ellensburg, WA USA
> >>
> >>>From: finstein at envsci.rutgers.edu
> >>>To: digestion at listserv.repp.org
> >>>CC: digestion at listserv.repp.org
> >>>Subject: Re: [Digestion] Calculating methane production
> >>>Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 13:25:20 -0400 (EDT)
> >>>
> >>>Hello AD's -
> >>>
> >>>Actually, the logical parameters are those obtained through standard
> >>>"Proximate" analysis of foods - i.e., collective tests for fats,
> >>> proteins
> >>>and carbohydrates. Calorie estimate can then be made - and listed on the
> >>>labels of all those tempting cookies. Somehow - and I don't know exactly
> >>>how - calories can be converted to methane.
> >>>
> >>>When you think of it, COD, TS, VS are less appropriate - though deeply
> >>>embedded in waste mentality. Same with bomb calorimetry - as reult may
> >>>have little to do with digestability.
> >>>
> >>>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
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >> _________________________________________________________________
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> >> 
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> >>
> >>
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> >> 02:10
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> >
>
>
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*** Dr David Fulford, MSc Renewable Energy, Engineering Building ***
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