ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of Hydrothermal Depolymerization
and Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Algae Biomass
on Yield of Methane Fermentation Process
Anna Grala, Marcin Zieliński, Marcin Dębowski, Magda Dudek
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Department of Environmental Protection Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2012;21(2):363-368
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Our study was undertaken in order to determine the effects of preliminary hydrothermal depolymerization
and enzymatic hydrolysis of macroalgae biomass originating from the Vistula Lagoon on yield of the
methane fermentation process in terms of quantity and quality of produced biogas. The process of enzymatic
hydrolysis was conducted with a mixture of enzymes: Cellulast 1.5 L, Novozym 188, and Hemicellulase. In
turn, the process of hydrothermal depolymerization was run for 120 minutes at 200ºC under a pressure of 1.7
MPa. The processed plant substrate was next subjected to mesophilic fermentation. The application of enzymatic
hydrolysis contributed to an increased quantity of and improved qualitative composition of biogas produced.