Faculty Advisor
Kmiotek, Stephen J.
Center
NF / Nancy, France
Sponsor
ENSIC, Universite de Lorraine
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion is a waste treatment technology used to break down organic matter and further convert it to useful products for energy and soil amendment applications. This biological process is highly sensitive to environmental conditions and impurities that can have inhibitory effects on methane production. This study investigates the effects of colistin and streptomycin, two antibiotics commonly administered to livestock, on the digestion of cattle manure. Volumes and compositions of biogas were monitored for a one month period. Experimental data indicated that colistin is not inhibitory at concentrations up to 1 mg/L, and that streptomycin becomes inhibitory between 8 and 80 mg/L. Future work is required to determine more precisely the levels of inhibition for both antibiotics.
Publisher
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Date Accepted
March 2015
Major
Humanities and Arts
Major
Chemical Engineering
Project Type
Major Qualifying Project
Copyright Statement
All authors have granted to WPI a nonexclusive royalty-free license to distribute copies of the work, subject to other agreements. Copyright is held by the author or authors, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise noted.
Accessibility
Unrestricted
Advisor Department
Chemical Engineering