[Digestion] Calculating methane production

Tue May 8 10:24:34 CDT 2007

Hi all,

Don't know how I got pegged as a debate stifler!! But am decidedly a
debate promoter!!

Let a million flowers bloom!!!!

Mel

> 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
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >> _________________________________________________________________
>> >> Exercise your brain! Try Flexicon.
>> >>
>> http://games.msn.com/en/flexicon/default.htm?icid=flexicon_hmemailtaglineapril07
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> Digestion mailing list
>> >> Digestion at listserv.repp.org
>> >> http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/digestion_listserv.repp.org
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> >> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>> >> Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.2/782 - Release Date:
>> >> 01/05/2007
>> >> 02:10
>> >>
>> >
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Digestion mailing list
>>Digestion at listserv.repp.org
>>http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/digestion_listserv.repp.org
>
> *** Dr David Fulford, MSc Renewable Energy, Engineering Building ***
> ***     School of Construction Management and Engineering        ***
> ***      The University of Reading, Whiteknights,                ***
> ***    Reading RG6 6AY, UK      Tel: +44-(0)118-378 8563,        ***
> *** Fax: +44-(0)118-931 3327 E-mail: D.J.Fulford at Reading.ac.uk   ***
>

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