Gas Yields and Methane Contents for Various Substrates
Table 6: Gas yields and methane contents for various substrates at the end of a 10-20
day retention time at a process temperature of roughly 30°C.
Substrate
Gas yield
(l/kg VS*)
Methane content
(%)
Pig manure
340-550
65-70
Cow manure
90-310
65
Poultry droppings
310-620
60
Horse manure
200-300
Sheep manure
90-310
Barnyard dung
175-280
Wheat straw
200-300
50-60
Rye straw
200-300
59
Barley straw
250-300
59
Oats straw
290-310
59
Corn straw
380-460
59
Rape straw
200
Rice straw
170-280
Rice seed coat
105
Flax 360 59
Hemp
360 59
Grass
280-550
70
Elephant grass
430-560
60
Cane trash (bagasse)
165
Broom
405
Reed
170
Clover
430-490
Vegetables residue
330-360
Potato tops/greens
280-490
Field/sugar beet greens
400-500
Sunflower leaves
300
59
Agricultural waste
310-430
60-70
Seeds
620
Peanut shells
365
Fallen leaves
210-290
58
Water hyacinth
375
Algae
420-500
63
Sewage sludge
310-740
Source: Production and Utilization of Biogas in Rural Areas of Industrialized and Developing
Countries, Schriftenreihe der gtz, No. 97, pg. 63, after: Felix Maramba, Biogas and Waste
Recycling - The Phillipine Experience; Metro Manila, Phillipines, 1978
* VS = Total volatile solids, e.g. ca. 9% of total liquid manure mass for cows .
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