Kinetic Considerations on Thermophilic Digestion of Maize Silage at Different Feeding Modes

Digestion of maize silage in batch, semi-batch and continuous mode was investigated under similar experimental conditions with the aim to compare the degradation kinetics. The modeling with the 1st order equation shows that despite the ensiling pre-treatment the disintegration/hydrolysis step determines the total degradation rate of the substrate. The results confirmed an extremely high adatation capability of anaerobic biocenosis to increased feeding frequency, rather than to higher but less frequent loadings. 2-3 times higher degradation rates were observed for triple feeding frequency. On the other hand an increase in organic loading within the same feeding mode always resulted in reduction of digestion rate.