ENHANCING BIOGAS/BIOMETHANE PRODUCTION THROUGH CO-DIGESTION OF ORGANIC MATTER USING THE RESPONSE SURFACE METHOD (RSM).

ABSTRACT

This study utilized cow dung to enhance biomethane production through anaerobic digestion, investigating influential factors and operational parameters affecting biogas generation. The emphasis was on improving biomethane content for effective and sustainable renewable energy production using Response Surface Methodology. The feedstock underwent analyses and optimization steps, revealing a significant presence of elemental Calcium and a predominant composition of organic Carbon, favourable for biogas production. Anaerobic digestion in a bio-digester aimed to maximize biogas yield, employing Response Surface Methodology, specifically Box-Behnken Design, to optimize the process with factors such as Solvent to Substrate Ratio, Resident Time, and Biocatalyst Load. The primary response variable was Total Biogas Volume, and the analysis showed that Biocatalyst Load played the most crucial role in enhancing biogas production efficiency. The compositional analysis of the produced biogas indicated a high Methane content, reaching 660,000 ppm, signifying the success of the optimization process and the suitability of the feedstock for efficient biogas production. In summary, the feedstock's composition and the optimization process, particularly focusing on Biocatalyst Load, contributed to the successful production of Methane-rich biogas. This underscores the potential of the feedstock for renewable energy and highlights the importance of optimizing key factors in biogas production. These findings hold promise for sustainable energy generation and merit further exploration in this field.