NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Evaluation of an Anaerobic Digestion System for Processing CELSS Crop Residues for Resource RecoveryThree bioreactors, connected in series, were used to process CELSS potato residues for recovery of resources. The first stage was an anaerobic digestor (8 L working volume; cow rumen contents inoculum; fed-batch; 8 day retention time; feed rate 25 gdw/day) that converted 33% of feed (dry weight loss) to CO2 and "volatile fatty acids" (vfa, 83:8:8 mmolar ratio acetic:propionic:butyric). High nitrate-N in the potato residue feed was absent in the anaerobic effluent, with a high portion converted to NH4(+)-N and the remainder unaccounted and probably lost to denitrification and NH4(+) volatilization. Liquid anaerobic effluent was fed to an aerobic, yeast biomass production vessel (2 L volume; Candida ingens inoculum; batch [pellicle] growth; 2 day retention time) where the VFAs and some NH4(+)-N were converted into yeast biomass. Yeast yields accounted for up to 8% of potato residue fed into the anaerobic bioreactor. The third bioreactor (0.5 L liquid working volume; commercial nitrifier inoculum; packed-bed biofilm; continuous yeast effluent feed; recirculating; constant volume; 2 day hydraulic retention time) was used to convert successfully the remaining NH4(+)-N into nitrate-N (preferred form of N for CELSS crop production) and to remove the remaining degradable soluble organic carbon. Effluents from the last two stages were used for partial replenishment of minerals for hydroponic potato production.
Document ID
19990014243
Acquisition Source
Kennedy Space Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Strayer, R. F.
(Dynamac Corp. Cocoa Beach, FL United States)
Finger, B. W.
(Dynamac Corp. Cocoa Beach, FL United States)
Alazraki, M. P.
(Dynamac Corp. Cocoa Beach, FL United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Advances in Space Research
Publisher: Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd.
Volume: 20
Issue: 10
ISSN: 0273-1177
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available