Title: Cutting interval of Napier grass affecting methane yield in anaerobic digestion

Authors: Nusara Sinbuathong; Yuwadee Sangsil; Suriya Sawanon

Addresses: Scientific Equipment and Research Division, Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute (KURDI), Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand ' Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand

Abstract: Digestion of Napier grass at cutting intervals of 30, 45, 60 and 90 days was investigated in two-stage anaerobic reactors. Four sets of reactors with working volumes of 4 and 5 L for acidogenic and methanogenic reactors were operated at 30°C. Acidogenic reactors were fed slurry of Napier grass at 200 ml/day. Hydraulic retention times were 20 and 25 days for the acidogenic and methanogenic reactors, respectively. Mixed ruminal microorganisms from cow were used as inoculum. The highest methane yield was obtained from Napier grass with a cutting interval of 60 days producing 6,500 m3/ha.year.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; biogas; bioenergy; energy crop; global warming; grass; methane; Napier; waste treatment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2018.090397

International Journal of Global Warming, 2018 Vol.14 No.3, pp.288 - 300

Received: 12 Oct 2015
Accepted: 28 Jul 2016

Published online: 14 Mar 2018 *

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