Kinetics of Diauxic Biogas Production from Energy Crops: Sunflower (Helianthus annus) and Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) with Animal Manure

This study evaluated the kinetics of diauxic-like pattern biogas production from energy crops, Sunflower (SF) and Napier grass (NG) with cow dung (CD). The tests were performed in a batch reactor (R) operation for 60 days R1 - R4 53 R5 R8 under mesophilic conditions (24 36OC). characteristics tested crops suggest that they hold prospects bioenergy production. cumulative yield/gVS showed best performance was yield 15.17 dm3 (0.046 dm3/gVS) followed by R3, 13.90 (0.041 R2, 11.01dm3 (0.032 dm3/gVS). A significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) found reactors charged SF/CD as against SF only. In exhibited biphasic profile, two (2) kinetic parameters, K1 K2 determined bi-logistic function model. It observed predicted values second phase (K2) considerably higher than first (K1) R2 opposed to R6 R8, which implies more 2 1. results indicate anaerobic digestion NG had strong positive influence on yield, BP, PR λ1 but not λ2. model suitably fitted experimental data high correlation coefficient (R2) range 0.986 0.997. Based is well suited simulation process.