| abstract |
The invention relates to a new process for intensification of fermentations, especially anaerobic, mesophilic, methane producing microbial fermentations under septic conditions, particularly sewage treatment, inoculum formation or increasing the digesting capacity of anaerobic sewage sludge containing mixed acetogenic-methanogenic or only methanogenic micropopulations. The process of the invention can be applied primarily in environmental control, particularly in sewage treatment, but it can also be used in other areas such as B12 coenzyme (cobamide coenzyme) fermentation and other fermentations performed preferably with a mixed, anaerobic, mesophilic methane producing micropopulation at septic conditions. In the process of the invention the system is submitted to cyclic electric stimulation. Preferred parameters of electric stimulation: square impulse type; amplitude, 30-250 V; frequency, 5-50 Hz; refractory time, 5-50 sec. Biogas production of the electrically stimulated process is about 70-80 % higher than that of the unstimulated one. |