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Table 1 Mass and energy recovery for fermentation during ensiling

From: Ensiling of crops for biogas production: effects on methane yield and total solids determination

Type of fermentation

Product

Mass recovery

Energy recovery

Homolactic fermentation

2C3H6O3

100%

97%

Acetic acid fermentation

3C2H4O2

100%

93%

Heterolactic fermentation

C3H6O3 + C2H6O + CO2

76%

97%

Ethanol fermentation

2C2H6O + 2CO2

51%

97%

Butyrate fermentationa

C4H8O2 + 2CO2 + 2H2

49%

78%

  1. Mass and energy recovery for some common fermentation pathways during ensiling [30]. The examples are based on glucose as substrate. Gases are regarded as lost. Energy recovery is based on the gross energy value (higher heating value) of the products, excluding the energy in ATP.
  2. aPerformed by many Clostridia species.