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Maximization of biogas by minimal microwave and alkaline pretreatment of rice straw

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Abstract

The growth and development of biomass-based energy are essential conditions for supplementing the renewable energy sector dominated by solar and wind energy. Conversion of rice straw to biogas by anaerobic digestion can play a vital role in enhancing energy security and the share of bioenergy. The biggest hurdle in the process of digestion of lignocellulosic biomass like rice straw is the prerequisite of its pretreatment. Mostly high-power microwave and high-concentration alkaline pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass have been studied. In the present study, dilute alkaline and low-power microwave techniques for efficient pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials have been considered. Anaerobic digestion of untreated and pretreated rice straws was performed at mesophilic temperature to compare the effectiveness of pretreatment methods for their biogas yield. Biogas obtained from untreated rice straw was found at 213.7 NmL/gVS. Among alkaline pretreatment with dilute NaOH solution of 0.1 to 0.5% concentrations, the best biogas yield of 418.5 NmL/gVS (96% higher than untreated) was obtained from 0.2% alkaline treated rice straw. Out of different microwave pretreatment from 100 to 500 W, the best biogas yields of 458.8 NmL/gVS (114% higher than untreated) were obtained from 300 W pretreated rice straws. The average biomethane content in the biogas generated after alkaline pretreatment was 52%, and in biogas generated after microwave, pretreatment was found to be 50.7%. Microwave pretreatment was found to be slightly better.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

VS :

Volatile solids

W :

Watt

AD :

Anaerobic digestion

SATAT :

Sustainable alternative toward affordable transport

VFA :

Volatile fatty acid

M :

Molar

N :

Normal

ASTM :

American Society for Testing and Material

ND :

Not determined

C/N :

Carbon to nitrogen ratio

ISR :

Inoculums to substrate ratio

CHNS :

Carbon hydrogen nitrogen and sulfur

TCD :

Thermal conductivity detector

PID :

Proportional integral derivative

SAIF :

Sophisticated analytical instrument facility

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the role of SAIF IIT Bombay for their support in getting elemental analysis of rice straw, and Vachan dairy and food products limited Kharora Raipur for providing inoculums for anaerobic digestion. The study was carried out at NIT Raipur by extending laboratory and other infrastructural support and facilities for research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, G.E. Road, Raipur, India

    Gopal P. Naik, Anil K. Poonia & Parmesh K. Chaudhari

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  1. Gopal P. Naik
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  2. Anil K. Poonia
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  3. Parmesh K. Chaudhari
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Contributions

Gopal P. Naik conceived, designed, conducted the study, and drafted the manuscript. Anil K. Poonia supervised, resourced, and validated the work. Parmesh K. Chaudhari was involved in editing drafts and analysis of data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Gopal P. Naik.

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Naik, G.P., Poonia, A.K. & Chaudhari, P.K. Maximization of biogas by minimal microwave and alkaline pretreatment of rice straw. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-03539-1

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