Anaerobic Digestion of Pre-treated Maize Cob for Enhanced Biogas Production

Mythili Rangasamy; Anita Nagarajan; Umamaheshwari Tirumalai; Pavithra Rajendran; Abishek Ramamoorthi; Subburamu Karthikeyan

doi:10.52151/jae2021581.1760

Authors

Mythili Rangasamy Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Author
Anita Nagarajan Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Author
Umamaheshwari Tirumalai Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Author
Pavithra Rajendran Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Author
Abishek Ramamoorthi Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Author
Subburamu Karthikeyan Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2021581.1760

Keywords:

Maize cob, pre-treatment, potassium hydroxide, anaerobic digestion, bio-digested slurry

Abstract

Maize cob is a ligno-cellulosic wastes available in India. In the present study, properties of maize cob were determined as per standard test methods. Based on the values, maize cob was pre-treated with potassium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, and phosphoric acid in 1, 2, 3%v/v concentrations for 24 h. Pre-treatment with 3%v/v potassium hydroxide was effective in enhancing the availability of cellulose (57%). Anaerobic digestion of the alkali pre-treated maize cob showed potential of enhanced methane generation (0.0202 m3.kg-1 of TS) by three times using the conventional cow dung slurry as inoculum source. The bio-digested slurry contained (nitrogen (0.04 – 0.07%), and phosphorus (0.012 – 0.02%) and , potassium (0.01 – 0.03%)) macro-nutrients, and proved to have potential of use as organic manure.

Author Biographies

Mythili Rangasamy, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Assistant Professor
Anita Nagarajan, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.

UG Student
Umamaheshwari Tirumalai, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.

UG Student
Pavithra Rajendran, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.

UG Student
Abishek Ramamoorthi, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.

UG Student
Subburamu Karthikeyan, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Professor

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