Anaerobic Digestion of Lignocellulosic Biomass Using Rumen Contents for Enhanced Biogas Production
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2015-12
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University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Lignocellulosic biomass has great potential for bioenergy generation via anaerobic digestion. However, its refractory properties result in slow hydrolysis and consequently low methane yield. Since the rumen microbial community facilitates the degradation of plant biomass, using it as an inoculum could potentially enhance methane yield from lignocellulosic feedstocks. This strategy was evaluated in co-digestion of energy crop, Napier grass and cow manure in three bioreactors, R1, R2, and R3. R1 was inoculated with rumen content, R3 with a anaerobic digestion inoculum, and R2 with a mixture of both inocula. During start-up period, the reactors exhibited unstable conditions, while the addition of urine in cow manure particularly improved the reactor performance. At the end of the experiment, the three reactors demonstrated similar performance. Rumen contents enhanced VFA production from Napier grass; however there was an imbalance between hydrolysis and methanogenesis. R3 exhibited a combination of hydrolytic bacteria, syntrophs, and methanogens. Mixing rumen content with anaerobic digestion inoculum thus seems to be a good option. Furthermore, close monitoring of the start-up period and the use of a co-substrate with high buffering capacity and nitrogen content are highly recommended for efficient digestion of Napier grass using rumen contents.
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Lignocellulosic biomass, anaerobic digestion, Hydrolysis, rumen content, microbial community
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Theses for the degree of Master of Science (University of Hawaii at Manoa). Molecular Biosciences & Bioengineering
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