Digestate
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The anaerobic digestion produces two main products: digestate and biogas. Digestate is produced both by acidogenesis and methanogenesis and each have different characteristics.
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[edit] Acidogenic digestate
Acigogenic digestate is fibrous and consists of structural plant matter including lignin and cellulose. Acidogenic digestate has high moisture retention properties. The digestate may also contain minerals and remnants of bacteria.
[edit] Methanogenic digestate
Methanogenic digestate is a sludge (sometimes called a liquor). This is often high in nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates.
[edit] Uses
The primary use of digestate is as a soil conditioner. Acidogenic digestate provides moisture retention and organic content for soils. This organic material can break down further, aerobically in soil. Methanogenic digestate provides nutrients for plant growth.
Acidogenic digestate can also be used as an environmentally friendly filler to give structure to composite plastics.
[edit] Digestate and Compost
Digestate is technically not compost although it is similar to it in physical and chemical characteristics. Compost is produced by aerobic digestion- decomposition by aerobes. This includes fungi and bacteria which are able to break down the lignin and cellulose to a greater extent.
[edit] See also
- Anaerobic decomposition
- Anaerobic digester types
- Anaerobic digestion
- Biogas powerplant
- Biosolids
- Mechanical biological treatment
