Document Type : ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Authors

1 Mechanical Engineering Department, Sinhgad College of Engineering Research Center, Vadgaon, Pune, Maharashtra, India

2 Keystone School of Engineering, Shewalewadi, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

There is a great need to implement low-cost and user-friendly methods for further propagation of biogas technology in India. Environment unfriendly disposal of floral waste causes serious environmental pollution. Literature shows a limited research work regarding the anaerobic digestion of floral waste for biogas generation.  The present experimental work aims to propagate floral waste as a sustainable source of biogas energy in India. Using different techniques like novel alkaline pretreatment, solar heating of the digester and co-digestion with food waste give enhanced biogas production from floral waste. A novel alkaline pretreatment of the floral waste using sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate gives an improvement in biogas output by 106%, with a saving in the cost of chemical pretreatment up to 96%, compared to traditional sodium hydroxide pretreatment. Also, solar heating of the digester increases the biogas output by 122% as compared to digesters in ambient conditions. Co-digestion of the floral waste with food waste also improves biogas output by 32.6%. Raw biogas from floral waste contains over 57% methane, which is higher than the previous studies. Large-scale application of the techniques can benefit the society.

Graphical Abstract

Biogas generation from floral waste using different techniques

Highlights

  • Increase in biogas output by 103-106% using  sodium carbonate pretreatment
  • Pretreatment cost reduction by 90-96% using sodium carbonate
  • Increase in biogas output by 61-122% using solar heated digester
  • Increase in biogas output by co-digestion with food waste.

Keywords

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