What environment gives the best results for methane gas production?
Temperature needs to be maintained at about 100F for mesophilic operation or 140F for thermophilic operation. The pH of the digester needs to be at about 7 (neutral). If the pH drops into the acidic range, the methanogens (bacteria which produce methane) stop functioning. None of the bacteria like a high pH. The buffering capacity of the digester is given by the alkalinity measurement, which determines the amount of calcium carbonate present. The alkalinity should be about 2500 mg/L as calcium carbonate.
