Study on Commercial Scale Steam Explosion of Winter<i>Brassica Napus</i>STRAW

Abstract

The lignocellulose-based rapeseed straw is usually burned. However, the presence of chlorine causes ash caking and potential risk of carcinogen formations. Because its natural form severely undergoes the anaerobic fermentation, it was subjected to various parameters of steam explosion technology. The dynamics of the processes were analyzed using the new parameter called Explosion Power Density, which was recently proposed to substitute the previously used Severity factor. However, it was proved that this parameter cannot embrace the complexity of the biotechnological process and should be accompanied by other operating parameters, for example, water content. The maximum yield of methane, 345.3 m3 tVS−1, was achieved in the vicinity of Explosion Power Density, 32 MWm−3, VS 9.9%, while the thermophilic conditions (50°C) allowed to reduce the time of anaerobic fermentation.