Optimizing key factors for biomethane production from KOH-pretreated switchgrass by response surface methodology
Habiba Khalid1, Fanfan Cai1, Jiyu Zhang1
1Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 505 Zonghe Building A, 15 North 3rd Ring East Road, Beijing, 100029, China.
Summary
Switchgrass (SG) anaerobic digestion (AD) was optimized for biomethane production. Pretreatment and optimized conditions significantly enhanced methane yield and biodegradability, supporting sustainable energy from biomass.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Renewable Energy
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a key technology for converting biomass waste into methane, a valuable biofuel.
- Lignocellulosic biomass, like switchgrass (SG), offers a sustainable feedstock for AD but requires efficient pretreatment for optimal energy recovery.
- Consistent feedstock supply is crucial for the stable operation of AD plants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and optimize the anaerobic digestion performance of switchgrass (SG) for enhanced biomethane production.
- To determine the optimal levels of key operational parameters for maximizing methane yield from pretreated SG.
- To evaluate the impact of chemical pretreatment on SG biodegradability and methane yield.
Main Methods:
- Switchgrass (SG) was pretreated using 3% KOH solution to enhance its biodegradability.
- Central composite design of response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize anaerobic digestion parameters.
- Key factors investigated included feed-to-inoculum (F/I) ratio, organic loading (OL), and pH.
Main Results:
- The highest experimental methane yield achieved was 288.4 mL/gVS under optimized conditions.
- Optimal parameters identified were an F/I ratio of 1, pH of 6.96, and an OL of 24 gVS/L.
- 3% KOH pretreatment significantly increased SG biodegradability from 14.23% to 85.53%.
Conclusions:
- Optimized anaerobic digestion of pretreated switchgrass is a viable method for enhanced biomethane production.
- Chemical pretreatment is effective in improving the biodegradability of lignocellulosic biomass for AD.
- This research provides a foundation for the large-scale application of switchgrass in sustainable biomethane generation.
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