Anaerobic digestion of agricultural wastes is a primary research area within the Agricultural Waste Management Laboratory working group led by Dr. Robert Burns. Increasing interest in producing renewable energy has led to renewed interest in the anaerobic digestion of agricultural wastes. The Agricultural Waste Management Laboratory group is currently involved with lab, bench, and full scale anaerobic digestion projects. The Agricultural Waste Management Laboratory has the capability to characterize substrates (pH, alkalinity, volatile fatty acids, COD, TS, TSS, TDS, VS, VSS, TKN, NH4, Total P, and dissolved reactive P) and to access substrate digestion potential. It maintains an 80-L inoculum reactor to provide biomass for the lab's extensive Biochemical Methane Potential Assay and Anaerobic Toxicity Assay capacity. Additionally, the working group maintains a fabrication shop at LEBRC (an off campus research facility) with the capabilities of developing bench and pilot scale systems as needed.

NOTE: BMP and ATA samples need to be submitted and paid for prior to November 16th to be processed in 2009. BMPs and ATAs requested after that date will be processed beginning January 4th following our return from the holiday break. Samples should not be shipped during December without making arrangements with the laboratory.
Beddoes, J.C., K.S. Bracmort, R.T. Burns, W.F. Lazarus. 2007. 6 Nov. 2007. Biomass Energy Technical Note No. 1- An Analysis of Energy Production Costs from Manure Anaerobic Digestion Systems on U.S. Livestock Production Facilities. NRCS-USDA. www.nrcs.usda.gov.
Zitomer, D. H., R. T. Burns, M. Duran and D. S. Vogel. 2007. Effect of Sanitizers, Rumensin and Temperature on Anaerobic Digester Biomass. Transactions of the ASABE. Vol. 50 (5): 1807-1813.
Burns, R. T., J. Beddoes, K. Bracmort. 2007. Status of Manure Anaerobic Digesters in the United States. Proceedings of the International Conference on 21st Century Challenges to Sustainable Agri-Food Systems. Pages 476-481.
Hawkins, G. L., D. R. Raman, R. T. Burns, R. E. Yoder, and T. L. Cross. 2001. Enhancing Dairy Lagoon Performance with High-Rate Anaerobic Digesters. Transactions of the ASAE. 44(6):1273-1278.
Hawkins, G.L., D.R. Raman, R.T. Burns, R.E. Yoder, and T.L. Cross. Reducing Dairy Lagoon Organic Loading Rates with High-Rate Anaerobic Digesters. Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Animal Agriculture and Food Processing Wastes. Ed. James A. Moore. pp. 362 - 371. Des Moines, Iowa, 9-11 October. ASAE, St. Joseph, MI.