Kinetic Assessment of Biogas Production from Lignocellulosic Biomasses

In this paper the kinetics of biogas production was studied by performing a series of laboratory experiments using different lignocellulosic biomass mixed with fresh cattle dung at three different temperatures. Laboratory digesters each of 1000 ml capacity were used for the laboratory experiments in batch mode. Five different types of lignocellulosic biomasses such as bamboo dust, saw dust, sugarcane bagasse, rice straw and rice husk were considered for biogas production, each mixed with fresh cattle dung, in the ratio of 1:3. Water was mixed with the prepared feed material in 1:3 ratio for digestion in the aforementioned digesters. The experiments were carried out in the temperature range 45°C-55°C in a step of 5°C. The purpose of this research was to study the biogas production kinetic from lignocellulosic biomass in batch mode anaerobic digestion. Modified Gompertz equation was used to compare the data obtained from the experiments. It was found that the kinetic parameters such as biogas production rate (U ml/gm/day) and maximum biogas production potential (A ml/gm) improved with increase in temperature for all the biomasses, whereas the lag phase period (λ days) reduces with increase in temperature.