APPARATUS FOR VOLUMETRIC MONITORING OF TH E ANAEROBIC DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS

The laboratory volumetric apparatus designed for the study of anaerobi c decomposition of organic compounds was tested with a heterogenenous culture of microorganisms. Methanol, sodium acetate, and acetic acid w ere tested at similar to 35 degrees C, 3.5-7 mmol.l(-1) organic substr ate, and 2.5 g.l(-1) dry biomass. Very good reproducibility of determi nation was obtained for the amounts of biogas corresponding to 60-90% theoretical methane evoluation depending of the type of substrate. Opt imization of the measurement can give a substance to this method which is less expensive than the manometric method.