Krzysztof Józef Jankowski

Semi-continuous anaerobic digestion of different silage crops: VFAs formation, methane yield from fiber and non-fiber components and digestate composition

This study presents the results of long-term semi-continuous experiments on anaerobic digestion at an HRT of 45d with ten silages: 2 annual and 4 perennial crops, and 4 mixtures of annual with perennial crops. The composition of substrates and digestates was determined with Van Soests fractionation method. Removal of non-fiber materials ranged from 49.4% (Miscanthus sacchariflorus) to 89.3% (Zea mays alone and mixed with M. sacchariflorus), that of fiber materials like lignin ranged from 0.005% (Z. mays alone and mixed with grasses at VS ratio of 90:10%) to 46.5% (Sida hermaphrodita). The lowest stability of anaerobic digestion, as confirmed by normalized data concentrations of volatile fatty acids, was reported for both miscanthuses and sugar sorghum. The methane yield coefficients for non-fiber and fiber materials were 0.3666 and 0.2556L/g, respectively. All digestate residues had high fertilizing value, especially those from mixtures of crops.

The effect of sulphur fertilization on macronutrient concentrations in the post-harvest biomass of mustard

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of sulphur (S) fertilization on macronutrient concentrations in the roots, straw and oil cake of white mustard and Indian mustard. The experiment was conducted in northeastern Poland (2006–2008). The highest content of N, P, K, Mg and S was noted in the oil cake of both mustard species. Sulphur fertilization increased S concentrations and had no effect on Mg concentrations in the roots of white mus tard and Indian mustard. Sulphur fertilizers applied to soil significantly increased the content of N, K and Ca in the roots of Indian mustard, whereas they had no significant effect on the content of N, P and Ca, and decreased K con centrations in the roots of white mustard. Sulphur fertilization led to a significant decrease in N content, and an in crease in the content of K and Ca in the straw of both mustard species. Sulphur fertilization significantly decreased P concentrations and increased S concentrations in the oil cake of both mustard species. In response to S fertilization, the content of N and K decreased in the oil cake of Indian mustard, but did not change significantly in the oil cake of white mustard. Therefore, S fertilization significantly differentiated the fertilizing value of post-harvest resi dues and the feeding value of white mustard and Indian mustard seeds.

Possibility use of digital image analysis for the estimation of the rapeseed maturity stage

ABSTRACT Green seeds are considered undesirable impurities in rapeseed mass for edible oil production. The rapeseed maturity degree is mostly determined by visual evaluation of the embryo colour. In this study, digital image analysis (DIA) was used for characterisation of rapeseed samples harvested at different maturity stages. The seed size, surface and cross-section colour in RGB, HSI and L*a*b* colour spaces as well as share of green seeds and content of pigments were determined. The statistically significant correlation coefficients calculated between the chlorophyll pigment content and cross-section colour attributes indicate the potential use of DAI to determine the rapeseed maturity stage.

Effect of different nitrogen fertilizer treatments on the conversion of Miscanthus × giganteus to ethanol

Miscanthus×giganteus is a perennial rhizomatous grass which is used as a biofuel crop. Due to its high yields, low production costs, resistance to low temperatures, low soil requirements and, above all, high cellulose content, miscanthus can be a useful resource for ethanol production. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of two fertilization regimes (sewage sludge/mineral NPK) during miscanthus cultivation on the chemical composition of biomass, the content of major lignocellulosic factions and the effectiveness of miscanthus conversion to bioethanol. The results indicate that fertilization treatments influenced biomass yield and the content of major lignocellulosic fractions. Bioethanol production was higher when hydrolysis and fermentation processes were conducted separately than when saccharification and fermentation were conducted simultaneously. Ethanol production increased by 30% and 40% in response to sewage sludge and NPK (equivalent nitrogen content=160kgN/ha) fertilization, respectively, in comparison with unfertilized crops.

THE EFFECT OF OILS QUALITY AND TRANSESTERIFICATION METHOD ON THE DEGREE OF CONVERSION OF THE FATTY ACIDS METHYL ESTERS

The aim of the work was to determine the effect of oils quality and transesterification method on the degree of conversion of the fatty acids. Material consisted of 4 samples of oil: rapeseed oil obtained by the laboratory hot pressing of rape seeds oils in approx. 80 °C, waste rapeseed and palm oils and one refined rapeseed oil. Oils used in the one-stage transesterification were characterized by a lower hydrolysis and oxidation degree than the oils used in two-stage transesterification (double-base and base-acid method). The quality of the obtained crude methyl esters was determined in terms of acid number, peroxide value, the lipid composition by thin layer chromatography. Quantitative testing of the degree of transesterification and the share of individual esters of fatty acids was conducted by gas chromatography. Studies have shown that that degree of conversion of the fatty acid methyl esters is dependent on both the quality of the oil and the method of transesterification. If oils are characterized by a good quality, then a method of transesterification is less important. However, if oils are heavily contaminated, then the right technology for their transesterification should be chosen, e.g. oil with high content of FFA should be subjected to base-acid transesterification. Studies have shown. If oils are characterized by a good quality, then a method of transesterification is less important. However, if oils are heavily contaminated, then the right technology for their transesterification should be chosen, e.g. oil with high content of FFA should be subjected to baseacid transesterification.