Biomass-fuelled proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) offer asolution for replacing fossil fuel for hydrogen production. Through using thebiomass-derived hydrogen as fuel, PEMFCs may become an efficient andsustainable energy system for small and medium-sized enterprises. The aim ofthis thesis is to evaluate the performance and potential applications of biomassfuelledPEMFC systems which are designed to convert biomass to electricity andheat. Biomass-fuelled PEMFC systems are simulated by Aspen plus based ondata collected from experiments and literature.The impact of the quality of the hydrogen-rich gas, anode stoichiometry, CH4content in the biogas and CH4 conversion rate on the performance of the PEMFCis investigated. Also, pinch technology is used to optimize the heat exchangernetwork to improve the power generation and thermal efficiency.For liquid and solid biomass, anaerobic digestion (AD) and gasification (GF),respectively, are relatively viable and developed conversion technologies. ForAD-PEMFC, a steam reformer is also needed to convert biogas to hydrogen-richgas. For 100 kWe generation, the GF-PEMFC system yields a good technicalperformance with 20 % electrical efficiency and 57 % thermal efficiency,whereas the AD-PEMFC system only has 9 % electrical efficiency and 13 %thermal efficiency. This low efficiency is due to the low efficiency of theanaerobic digester (AD) and the high internal heat consumption of the AD andthe steam reformer (SR). For the environmental aspects, the GF-PEMFC systemhas a high CO2 emissions offset factor and the AD-PEMFC system has anefficient land-use.The applications of the biomass-fuelled PEMFC systems are investigated on adairy farm and an olive oil plant. For the dairy farm, manure is used as feedstockto generate biogas through anaerobic digestion. A PEMFC qualified for 40 %electrical efficiency may generate 360 MWh electricity and 680 MWh heat peryear to make a dairy farm with 300 milked cows self-sufficient in a sustainableway. A PEMFC-CHP system designed for an olive oil plant generating annual 50000 m3 solid olive mill waste (SOMW) and 9 000 m3 olive mill waste water(OMW) is simulated based on experimental data from the Biogas2PEM-FCproject1. After the optimization of the heat exchanger network, the PEMFC-CHP  system can generate 194 kW electricity which corresponds to 62 % of the totalelectricity demand of the olive oil plant.The economic performance of the PEMFC and biogas-fuelled PEMFC areassessed roughly including capital, operation &amp; maintenance (O&amp;M) costs of thebiogas plant and the PEMFC-CHP, the cost of heat and electricity, and the valueof the digestate as fertilizer. / <p>QC 20151109</p>

Anaerobinis dumblo stabilizavimas taikomas siekiant sumažinti organinių medžiagų kiekį esantį dumble. Šiame darbe nagrinėjami perteklinio veikliojo dumblo parametrų kitimai, keičiantis apkrovai stabilizavimo metu. Atlikta duomenų analizė. Eksperimentų pagalba nustatyta peleningumo priklausomybė nuo reaktoriaus tūrinės apkrovos. (Vilniaus miesto nuotekų valymo įrenginiuose susidarančiam pertekliniam veikliajam dumblui jį stabilizuojant). Taip pat darbe apžvelgti pagrindiniai veiksniai, įtakojantys veikliojo dumblo stabilizavimą. Atlikti šie bandymai: nustatyta dumblo koncentracija, dumblo peleningumas, pH, lakiosios riebiosios rūgštys, šarmingumas, biodujų kiekis. Pagal turimus duomenys nustatytos peleningumo, pH, šarmingumo, dujų kiekio priklausomybės nuo tūrinės anaerobinio reaktoriaus apkrovos. Darbe pateikiami bandymų metu atlikti tyrimų rezultatai, kurie buvo analitiškai ir dalinai statistiškai apdoroti. Darbo pabaigoje pateikiamos išvados. Darbą sudaro šios dalys: įvadas, trys skyriai, išvados, literatūros sąrašas, priedai. / Reducing organic material amount in sludge an anaerobic excess sludge is applied. In this work was considerated variation of excess active sludge parameter alternating of organic matter during anaerobical digestion. Analysis of data were done. With the help of experiments was ascertained correlation between volatile solids and loading of reactor. (excess active sludge in Vilnius city wastewater treatment plant was stabilized). Was looked through main subjects that have influence for stabilization of excess sludge. Such experiments were done: concentration of sludge, volatile solids, pH, volatile fatty acids, alkalinity, biogas amount. Using existing data correlation between volatile solids, pH, alkalinity, biogas amount and anaerobic reactor loading were found. In the work are represented facts obtained in experimentations. Facts were analyzed and statistically treated. In the end of work conclusions are presented.

Metabolic rate (MR) and digestive duration are thermally dependant, and energy usage changes as body temperature (Tb) changes. Increased Tb during digestion causes a rapid increase in VO2 and a shorter postprandial metabolic response known as specific dynamic action (SDA). SDA is the additional energy expended above standard metabolic rate (SMR) to carry out functions associated with meal digestion and assimilation. SDA is affected by prey size, prey type and body mass (Mb). Liquid meals require less energy to digest and assimilate than intact prey items resulting in a lower metabolic scope and reduced postprandial metabolic response. Digestive efficiency and metabolism are also affected by the level of dietary specialization which can lead to increased digestive efficiency in terms of duration and energy used for digesting preferred prey items. Here, I investigated the effects of Mb, Tb and ontogeny on standard and digestive MR of two dietary specialists, Dasypeltis scabra and D. inornata. Dasypeltis scabra, found throughout South Africa, and D. inornata, endemic to the eastern parts of South Africa and western part of Swaziland, digest only the liquid contents of freshly laid bird eggs and should have a lower energy cost of digestion and assimilation than other snake species consuming intact prey containing bones, fur or chitinous carapace. To test the effect of changes in Tb on the metabolic response of Dasypeltis, pre- and postprandial metabolic responses of adult D. inornata and adult and neonate D. scabra were compared. SMR and SDA were quantified at five ambient temperatures 20, 25, 27, 30, 32°C using closed system respirometry. SMR was measured for 3 days twice a day at 08h00 and 20h00. Thereafter, snakes were fed a meal of chicken egg equivalent to 20% of Mb and oxygen uptake (VO2) was measured for an additional 5 days at 08h00 and 20h00, and then once a day at 08h00 for an additional 7 – 10 days. Increased Tb resulted in increases in metabolic response variables for all groups. Variation in Tb significantly affected SDA (kJ kg-1) of D. scabra adults and neonates and D. inornata adults. There were few significant interspecific and ontogenetic differences across all temperature trials. Within five days after meal consumption for all groups at 32°C, postprandial VO2 rates peaked at 3.16 - 3.73 times preprandial rates (scope), lower than most other snake species. The optimal digestion temperature appears to be around 32°C in terms of duration, but may be higher to optimize digestion. Across the range of temperatures (20 - 32°C) and masses (3.98 – 71.33g), the duration of significantly elevated VO2 was on average 1.5 - 2 days longer for D. scabra adults and neonates than D. inornata. Digestion duration ranged from 6.5 - 13.5 days for D. inornata and from 7.5 - 16.5 days for D. scabra adults and neonates. Digestive duration was longer for D. scabra than other snake species that consume meals of intact prey of similar size, at the same temperature. Dasypeltis species expended less total energy for digestion and used a smaller proportion of total energy consumed for digestion than other snake species at similar temperatures. Lower maintenance and digestive costs suggest that energy is conserved for allocation to other functions during periods of low prey availability. In addition, Dasypeltis species may rely on thermoregulation to capitalize on reduction in energy output and to increase energy savings between meals. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

La méthanisation est un procédé biologique au cours duquel la matière organique est convertie en un gaz riche en méthane (biogaz). Parmi les technologies industrielles, les procédés de digestion par voie sèche (taux de matière sèche supérieur à 15 %) sont de plus en plus utilisés car ils présentent des avantages concurrentiels important par rapport aux procédés classiques par voie humide. Cependant, la nature très pâteuse du milieu de digestion lui confère des propriétés mal connues et non étudiées (comportement rhéologique, équilibres, transferts, cinétiques biologiques). Cette thèse comporte deux axes de recherche : i) la nature des équilibres chimiques (sorption, diffusion) intervenant dans les milieux de digestion, ii) la mise en place et l'application d'un modèle cinétique adapté à l'étude des milieux secs. Sur le premier volet, nous avons mis en évidence que le transfert diffusionnel est fortement réduit avec l'augmentation de la teneur en matière sèche des milieux en absence d'agitation. Une des conséquences est l'importance du transfert liquide-gaz pour la production de biogaz. Sur le deuxième volet, nous avons développé un modèle cinétique dédié qui nous a permis, par comparaison avec l'expérience, de mieux cerner la variabilité de la cinétique en fonction de la teneur en matière sèche des milieux. Les répercussions de ce travail se situent aussi bien à l'échelle du laboratoire, en particulier pour l'exploitation des essais d'activité méthanogène, qu'à l'échelle industrielle, avec la nécessité de contrôler le taux de matière sèche des procédés pour une efficacité optimale, et d'adapter l'agitation à ce taux pour améliorer les rendements de dégradation. Le modèle développé pourra constituer une base pour le dimensionnement et la conduite des installations.

Dans les espaces ruraux et périurbains d'Haïti, les déchets et résidus organiques générés principalement par les activités agricoles et agroindustrielles, sont traditionnellement valorisés in situ dans l'alimentation animale comme provende, dans la fertilisation des sols comme amendement organique et/ou à des fins énergétiques comme combustibles. Parallèlement, au niveau des villes, les déchets organiques sont majoritairement éliminés sans aucune forme de ségrégation dans des décharges non contrôlées. Ce travail de recherche a voulu mettre l'accent sur l'opportunité de valoriser ces déchets par la méthanisation approchée comme une voie alternative de traitement biologique des déchets organiques fermentescibles. Le travail d'évaluation des gisements de déchets organiques a mis en évidence que la mauvaise gestion de ces gisements entraine une perte annuelle de matières estimée à près de 2 960 000 tonnes de matière sèche, potentiellement convertibles en 367 500 000 Nm3 de méthane ou 310 000 tep, correspondant à environ 16% de la couverture énergétique finale des ménages à l'échelle nationale. L'approche expérimentale à l'échelle de laboratoire a permis d'évaluer les potentiels biométhanogènes de certaines catégories de déchets d'origine agricole, dont la bagasse, le chou et les déjections de bovins, porcins et poulets, ainsi que les possibilités d'optimisation des cinétiques de digestion anaérobie par des moyens peu onéreux comme la réduction de la taille des particules, l'augmentation du ratio InoculumMV/SubstratMV et les effets de synergie liés à la co-digestion. Des recherches à l'échelle du pilote de terrain ont également été réalisées. Un digesteur a été construit sur le modèle des digesteurs indiens et suivi pendant plusieurs semaines. Malgré les conditions particulières de mise en œuvre du pilote, les essais réalisés ont démontré la faisabilité de la filière avec la technologie rustique sélectionnée. Le temps de retour sur investissement pour un fonctionnement optimal du digesteur pilote a été estimé à 5 ans.

Baigiamajame magistriniame darbe tirta Utenos nuotekų valymo įrenginių pirminio ir perteklinio veikliojo dumblo mišinio skirtingų polimerų ir geležies druskų anaerobiniam puvimo procesui įtaka. Analizėje nagrinėjama proceso metu išsiskiriančių biodujų tūris ir metano dujų koncentracija. Tyrime naudojamas anaerobinio pūdymo modelis „W8 Armfield Ltd“, kuris dirba kaip vienalaipsniai anaerobiniai reaktoriai su mezofiliniu režimu. Išbuvimo trukmė – 20 dienų, apkrova bepelenėmis sausomis medžiagomis (BSM) nuo 0,61–0,96 gBSM/l/d, tiekiamo dumblo mišinio sausų medžiagų kiekis (SM) – 4 %. Baigiamuoju darbu siekiama išanalizuoti dumblo tirštinimui naudojamo sintetinio arba natūralaus polimero ir dozuojamos druskos (geležies sulfato (Fe2(SO4)3) bei geležies chlorido (FeCl3)) įtaką anaerobiniam pūdymo procesui. Panaudojus anaerobinio pūdymo modelį buvo sukurtos anaerobinės sąlygos ir pūdomas iš Utenos nuotekų valyklos tiekiamas pirminio ir perteklinio dumblo mišinys. Naudojantis įrenginiu INCA 4000 T100 buvo kaupiamos biodujos ir analizuojama jų sudėtis. Darbe taip pat nagrinėjamas SM sumažėjimas ir BSM suskaidymas. Įvertinus visus analizuojamus kriterijus nustatomas efektyviausias metodas išsiskiriančių dujų efektyvumui ir kokybei pagerinti. Išanalizavus tyrimo rezultatus pateiktos išvados. Darbą sudaro šios dalys: įvadas, 4 skyriai, išvados, rekomendacijos, literatūros sąrašas. Darbo apimtis – 63 p. teksto be priedų, 32 paveikslai, 8 lentelės, 42 bibliografiniai šaltiniai. / Objective of this work was to investigate impact of different iron and polymer doses on anaerobic digestion process. Primary and waste activated sludge was obtained from Utena Wastewater treatment plant. Analysis shows the volume of biogas produced and percentage of methane. The work was carried out using high-rate anaerobic digestion model W8 (Armfied Ltd. UK) which operates in the mesophilic range. The solids retention time was 20 days. The volatile suspended solids loading rate ranged from 0.61 to 0.96 g VSS/l d.Sludge mixture feed concentration – 4%. The Purpose of this work is to analyse impact of synthetic and organic polymer also iron (III) sulphate (Fe2(SO4)3) and iron (III) chloride (FeCl3) on anaerobic digestion process. Primary and waste activated sludge was obtained from Utena Wastewater treatment plant. The biogas was collected and components were analysed using INCA 4000 T100 analyser. Analysis of TS reduction and VS destruction is also presented. The most effective method of improving off-gas efficiency and quality was determined considering all the criteria determined by analysis. Having analyzed the results of the research, conclusions have been made. This work consists of the following parts: pre-face, 3 sections, conculsions, recommendations, reference list. There are 63 pages of text without appendices, 32 figures, 8 tables and 42 bibliographical sources in this work.

The use of microalgae culture to convert CO2 from power plant flue gases into biomass that are readily converted into biofuels offers a new frame of opportunities to enhance, compliment or replace fossil-fuel-use. Apart from being renewable, microalgae also have the capacity to utilise materials from a variety of wastewater and the ability to yield both liquid and gaseous biofuels. However, the processes of cultivation, incorporation of a production system for power plant waste flue gas use, algae harvesting, and oil extraction from the biomass have many challenges. Using SimaPro software, Life cycle Assessment (LCA) of the challenges limiting the microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) biofuel production process was performed to study algae-based pathway for producing biofuels. Attention was paid to material use, energy consumed and the environmental burdens associated with the production processes. The goal was to determine the weak spots within the production system and identify changes in particular data-set that can lead to and lower material use, energy consumption and lower environmental impacts than the baseline microalgae biofuel production system. The analysis considered a hypothetical transesterification and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) transformation of algae-to- biofuel process. Life cycle Inventory (LCI) characterisation results of the baseline biodiesel (BD) transesterification scenario indicates that heating to get the biomass to 90% DWB accounts for 64% of the total input energy, while electrical energy and fertilizer obligations represents 19% and 16% respectively. Also, Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) results of the baseline BD production scenario show high proportional contribution of electricity and heat energy obligations for most impact categories considered relative to other resources. This is attributed to the concentration/drying requirement of algae biomass in order to ease downstream processes of lipid extraction and subsequent transesterification of extracted lipids into BD. Thus, four prospective alternative production scenarios were successfully characterised to evaluate the extent of their impact scenarios on the production system with regards to lowering material use, lower energy consumption and lower environmental burdens than the standard algae biofuel production system. A 55.3% reduction in mineral use obligation was evaluated as the most significant impact reduction due to the integration of 100% recycling of production harvest water for the AD production system. Recycling also saw water demand reduced from 3726 kg (freshwater).kgBD- 1 to 591kg (freshwater).kgBD- 1 after accounting for evaporative losses/biomass drying for the BD transesterification production process. Also, the use of wastewater/sea water as alternative growth media for the BD production system, indicated potential savings of: 4.2 MJ (11.8%) in electricity/heat obligation, 10.7% reductions for climate change impact, and 87% offset in mineral use requirement relative to the baseline production system. Likewise, LCIA characterisation comparison results comparing the baseline production scenarios with that of a set-up with co-product economic allocation consideration show very interesting outcomes. Indicating -12 MJ surplus (-33%) reductions for fossil fuels resource use impact category, 52.7% impact reductions for mineral use impact and 56.6% reductions for land use impact categories relative to the baseline BD production process model. These results show the importance of allocation consideration to LCA as a decision support tool. Overall, process improvements that are needed to optimise economic viability also improve the life cycle environmental impacts or sustainability of the production systems. Results obtained have been observed to agree reasonably with Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis, with the production scenario proposing the exploitation of wastewater/sea water to culture algae biomass offering the best result outcome. This study may have implications for additional resources such as production facility and its construction process, feedstock processing logistics and transport infrastructure which are excluded. Future LCA study will require extensive consideration of these additional resources such as: facility size and its construction, better engineering data for water transfer, combined heat and power plant efficiency estimates and the fate of long-term emissions such as organic nitrogen in the AD digestate. Conclusions were drawn and suggestions proffered for further study.

Les Escherichia coli producteurs de Shiga-toxines (STEC) sont des bactéries pathogènes originaires du tractus digestif des ruminants qui peuvent contaminer certains aliments. Une fois ingérés, ils peuvent provoquer des pathologies graves. Le comportement des STEC n'appartenant pas au sérotype O157:H7 dans les fromages était mal connu. Par ailleurs, en dépit d'une forte prévalence des STEC dans les fromages, cet aliment est moins impliqué dans les épidémies que la viande. C'est pourquoi nous avons étudié dans un premier temps le devenir de ces STEC au cours de la fabrication de 5 schémas technologiques de fromages différents. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons analysé le comportement et la survie de STEC ayant survécu à la fabrication d'un fromage au cours d'une digestion artificielle. Nos résultats ont montré que certaines technologies sont favorables à la croissance des STEC. Seul un affinage de plus de 60 jours a permis une réduction du taux des STEC. Les étapes de cuisson du caillé ou de coagulation longue de certaines technologies semblent inhiber la croissance des STEC. De plus, la croissance et la survie observées pour les souches E. coli O157:H7 étaient plus faibles que pour les souches E. coli non-O157:H7. L'étude de la survie des souches STEC au cours de la digestion artificielle a montré une différence de comportement entre les 2 souches STEC testées : la souche E. coli O157:H7 a survécu à la digestion tandis que celle de sérotype O26:H11 s'est fortement développée en fin de digestion.

This work was carried out at Biogas Research Center (BRC) and the company Biogas in Vadstena. The aim was to systematically evaluate new substrates for biogas production. In particular, this case investigated the potential of straw in co-digestion with manure and slurry from pig, chicken and dairy. Straw is interesting to evaluate since it is second generation biomass and available in a large quantity. Also, anaerobic digestion (AD) of manure is beneficial because it deals with the spontaneous methane emission and leads to a better manure handling. Goals within the EU as well as in Sweden have been set up to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel and to produce more renewable energy. The methodology used is outlined by BRC in which a number of key areas, such as description of biomass, amount biomass, gas yield, technology, economy, environmental performance and energy system, competing interests and institutional factors, have been evaluated through literature studies and case study Biogas in Vadstena. Based on the results an overall judgment is done to determine the potential of straw. The result shows that straw is not appropriate to digest solely because of high TS, high carbon content and lack of nutrients. Straw also has lignocellulosic structures, which are difficult to break down. Especially lignin limits the biodegradability. Mechanical, thermal, chemical and biological pretreatments can increase the availability and biodegradability in the straw. In some cases pretreatment can also increase the methane potential. However, straw works well as a carbon complement in co-digestion with manure, which is a nitrogen-rich substrate. There are technologies available for AD of straw and manure for the whole biogas process, from transportation and pretreatment to digestion and upgrading. Although, there is space for further development of pretreatment and upgrading technology. The economic calculations show that it is profitable to use straw with manure in a farm-based biogas plant for vehicle gas production. Furthermore, the calculations of the energy show that biogas production is energy efficient with energy input/output ratio of 18-23%. Besides production of biogas, the digestate could be used as an environmentally friendly fertilizer. In summary, it is possible to produce biogas from straw together with manure, and this is beneficial from both an environmental and economic perspective. / Detta examensarbete har utförts i samarbete med Biogas Research Center (BRC) och företaget Biogas i Vadstena. Målet med examensarbetet var att systematiskt utvärdera nya substrat för biogasproduktion. Specifikt för det här fallet var att undersöka potentialen för halm i samrötning med gödsel och flyt från svin, höns och nöt. Halm är intressant att utvärdera då det tillhör andra generationens biomassa och finns tillgängligt i stor mängd. Även rötning av gödsel är givande då den spontana metanemissionen uteblir och det ger en bättre gödselhantering. Det har satts upp mål inom såväl EU som i Sverige att mer förnybart bränsle bör produceras för att minska växthusgasutsläppen från fossila bränslen. Metodiken som använts har framarbetats av BRC. Det innebär att substrat granskas utifrån ett flertal nyckelområden, såsom beskrivning och mängd biomassa, gasutbyte, synergieffekter, teknik, ekonomi, miljöpåverkan och energisystem, konkurrerande intressen och institutionella faktorer. Dessa har utvärderats genom litteraturstudier och studie av fallet Biogas i Vadstena. Utifrån resultatet görs en övergripande bedömning av substratet. Resultatet visar att halm inte är lämpligt att röta enskilt på grund av högt TS-värde, högt kolinnehåll och att den är näringsfattig. Halm består även till stor del av lignocellosa-strukturer som är svåra att bryta ned, i synnerhet lignin. Mekaniska, termiska, kemiska och bioglogiska förbehandlingar kan öka tillgängligheten och nedbrytbarheten av halm. Det kan även öka metanpotentialen i vissa fall. Däremot fungerar halm bra som ett komplement i samrötning med gödsel som är ett kväverikt substrat. Det finns teknik för rötning av halm för hela biogasprocessen, från transport, förbehandling och rötning till uppgradering. Dock finns utrymme för tekniken att utvecklas ytterligare. De ekonomiska beräkningarna visar att det är lönsamt att använda halm tillsammans med gödsel i en jordbruksbaserad biogasanläggning för fordonsgasproduktion. Vidare visar beräkningar för energisystemet att biogasproduktion är energieffektiv med energi input/output-kvot på 18-23%. Förutom fordonsgas produceras även biogödsel som är ett miljövänligt alternativ till konstgjord gödsel. Sammanfattningsvis, det är möjligt att producera biogas av halm tillsammans med gödsel och det är fördelaktigt ur en såväl miljömässigt som ekonomiskt perspektiv.

Physicochemical properties of fibre-based diets were used to determine the influence of feed bulk on physicochemical properties of digesta within each segment of the gastrointestinal tract and digesta in pigs. In the first experiment, three pigs (14 ± 1.2 kg body weight (BW) were allocated to each of six diets containing maize cob levels at 0, 80, 160, 240, 320 and 400 g/kg DM inclusion levels for four weeks. All pigs were fed ad libitum. They were slaughtered, eviscerated and weights of the gut compartments were recorded, then contents of digesta from each segment were sampled for the determination of water concentration, water holding capacity (WHC) and swelling capacity (SWC). The WHC of digesta in the stomach, ileum and caecum decreased (P < 0.05) with maize cob inclusion level. The SWC in the stomach decreased with the inclusion level of maize cob meal. The SWC of caecal digesta increased with maize cob inclusion (P < 0.05). Physicochemical properties of digesta increased (P < 0.05) from the stomach to ileum then decreased as the digesta moved through the hindgut. In the second experiment, four fibres namely maize cob, lucerne hay, sunflower husk and citrus pulp were used. These fibres were used in formulating diets for finishing pigs. Twenty-one complete diets were formulated by dilution of a conventional feed with increment levels of each fibre source at 0, 80, 160, 240, 320 and 400 g/kg. Each of the diets was offered ad libitum to four of 84 pigs weighing 80.8 ± 8.15 kg body weight, in individual pens, for 30 days. Stomach weights increased linearly with an increase in neutral detergent fibre (NDF) but increased with quadratic functions with an increase in SWC of the diet (P <0.05). An increase in WHC of the fibrous diets increased linearly the WHC of the proximal colon (P <0.01) at a faster rate compared to the WHC of the distal colon (P <0.001). As the SWC of the diets increased, linear increases in SWC of the digesta in the stomach (P <0.01) and caecum (P <0.001) were observed. The WHC of the digesta was negatively correlated to SWC (P < 0.001) in the stomach. Scaled feed intake (SFI) decreased linearly with an increase in SWC of the diet (P < 0.001). There was no relationship between WHC of the diet and SFI (P > 0.05). There was a linear decrease (P < 0.01) in SFI of finishing pigs as the SWC of the digesta. It can be concluded that the swelling capacity of the diets and stomach digesta in stomach are accurate predictors of scaled feed intake. Swelling capacity had great influence in the stomach weights whilst other bulking properties, such as WHC and neutral detergent fibre, affected the weight and digesta properties in the caecum, proximal and distal colon. / M.Sc.Agric. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2013.