Improvement in biohythane production using organic solid waste and distillery effluent.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Renewable Energy
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Biohythane, a two-stage anaerobic fermentation (biohydrogen and biomethanation), offers an eco-friendly method for organic waste valorization.
• Optimizing co-substrates is key to improving bioenergy yield and reducing costs in waste-to-energy processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the suitability and economic viability of using groundnut deoiled cake (GDOC), mustard deoiled cake (MDOC), distillers' dried grain with solubles (DDGS), and algal biomass (AB) as co-substrates for biohythane production.
• To determine the most effective co-substrate combination for maximizing bioenergy generation and minimizing substrate input costs.

Main Methods:

• Two-stage anaerobic fermentation (biohythane process) was employed.
• GDOC, MDOC, DDGS, and AB were tested as co-substrates.
• Gaseous energy production, cumulative hydrogen and methane yields, and substrate input cost (SIC) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Maximum gaseous energy yields were observed with GDOC (23.93 kcal/L) and DDGS (23.44 kcal/L).
• GDOC and DDGS outperformed MDOC and AB as co-substrates.
• The highest cumulative hydrogen (150 mmol/L) and methane (64 mmol/L) production was achieved using GDOC.
• Co-supplementation strategies resulted in a 98% reduction in substrate input cost (SIC).

Conclusions:

• GDOC and DDGS are highly suitable and economically viable co-substrates for the biohythane process.
• Optimized co-substrate selection significantly enhances bioenergy production (hydrogen and methane) from organic waste.
• The biohythane process, using selected co-substrates, presents a cost-effective and sustainable solution for waste valorization and renewable energy generation.