Study of Buswell’s Equation Using the H-atom Method

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion is a complex biochemical process that is represented by the stoichiometric Buswell’s equation. Buswell’s equation is the study of the interface among biochemistry, mathematics, and chemistry. Students often have difficulty in understanding the nature of biochemical stoichiometry. Buswell’s equation is significant for the calculation of the quantity of biomethane. Although the general formula C_xH_yO_z of organic pure substance or mixture has been well studied, the Buswell’s equation for biomolecules containing phosphorous has rarely been explored. The aim of this article is to study the nature of Buswell’s equation using the H-atom method. The new general Buswell’s equation, which contains phosphorous, is deduced from the H-atom and algebraic methods.

Keywords:

• H-atom method
• anaerobic digestion
• Buswell’s equation
• biochemical stoichiometric equation
• biomethane
• biomolecule C_xH_yO_zN_vS_uP_t