Kamil Kozłowski

The aim of the work was to analyze the impact of biochar produced under various production conditions on the course of the dark (hydrogen) fermentation process. A series of experiments were planned, in which the starting material was digestate from a functioning agricultural biogas plant. Changes in the physicochemical properties and microstructure of biochar obtained in the manufacturing process with different parameters were also analyzed. Another issue analyzed was the size and dynamics of the gas production during dark fermentation with the use of various types of auxiliary material. This work showed that increasing the temperature and holding time during the production of biochar from digestion pulp improved the dynamics of biohydrogen production during the process of dark fermentation. The results of this research can be used in industrial research to optimize the process of biohydrogen production using biochar.

One of the most commonly used substrates in biogas plants is maize silage, however, the application of monofermentation technology under Polish economic conditions has a tendency to rapidly bankrupt the investor. The lack of profitability of investments based on this material has encouraged...

The increasing demand for electrical energy and environmental concerns associated with conventional means of its generation drive the interest in alternative fuels. Biohydrogen, widely considered as fuel of the future, is one of such alternatives. To date, research results suggest that biological...

Air pollution is the result of natural processes and intense urban development. The volatile substances undesired emission causes environmental threats such as acid rain, aggravated greenhouse effect or the ozone depletion. Moreover, the pollution released into the air are harmful to the human...

The interest in biogas production in Poland is growing rapidly. This is mostly due to the fact that there is a need for handling and managing the increasing quantities of diverse bio-waste generated by industry and agriculture. Therefore, good laboratory practices and correct preparation of batch...

Industrial farms pose a serious threat to both people and the environment. The reason is that animal waste are produced in large quantities, which is a source of biogenic substances. Their irrational use, which is often common on industrial farms due to the limited area for fertilization, can lead to the eutrophication of water tanks and soils, and even to contamination with heavy metals and disease-causing microorganisms and pathogens. The economy of animal feces is accompanied by greenhouse emission and odors, the resulting emissions of volatile compounds also lead to the formation of acid rain. In view of the above, the possibilities of their management, which will be safe for ecosystems, are being sought for. While aeration, composting or fertilization of animal manure does not fully solve environmental protection or profitability issues, their anaerobic treatment allows not only for safe utilization, but also for energy production. Thus, the possibility of managing animal waste from a poultry, cattle and pig farms in biogas plants was presented. The presented calculations have slown that using them as a substrate in the fermentation process allows for effective utilization of animal manure being hazardous to the environment, in particular in the case of industrial farms.