Synergistic Effects of Low Temperature and Alkali on the Anaerobic Digestion of Corn Stover

Combined with the climatic conditions in cold areas, the effect of the NaOH-pretreatment at low temperature on the methane yield of corn stover was studied by anaerobic digestion at batch mode. For the alkali/freezing pretreatment, the sample reached a maximum specific methane yield of 280.48 +/- 21.75 mL/g VS at the conditions of freezing time of 15 days and 2.0 % NaOH. Lower temperature-alkali pretreatment had an obvious effect on the structure of samples, with significant changes in the contents of elemental C, N, cellulose, and lignin, as well as an increase in crystallinity. In addition, a higher energy conversion efficiency (77.9 %) was obtained for the sample pretreated by alkaline/freezing. The results showed that the methane yield after pretreatment followed by alkali/freezing treatment > water/freezing treatment > freezing treatment. Therefore, alkali/freezing pretreatment is an effective method to improve the performance of the anaerobic digestion of corn stover. This study could provide a pathway for developing a low-temperature pretreatment by combining with the climate characteristics of cold areas.