Biogas Generation from Leafy Biomass & Vegetable Wastes by Application of Ultrasound

J. Mallick, K. L. Narayana, S. Khuntia, D. Singh and R. Barik

Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology (CSIR) Bhubaneswar, Orissa Email: jmallick_immt@yahoo.co.in

Abstract: Generation of biogas using biomethanation process from various bio-wastes is well known. This is a slow process but can be accelerated by applying ultrasound. In this respect extensive experimental studies in laboratory scale and pilot scale reactors were conducted, using cowdung and leafy biomass/ vegetable wastes with different dilution from 1:1 to 1:10. Ultrasound frequency was 43 kHz from a constant frequency ultrasound generator. It was observed that with the application of ultrasound for a few minutes everyday, the gas generation rate was nearly doubled compared to that in the conventional process. The start-up time for gas generation also reduced substantially.

1. Introduction
Biomethanation is an important biological conversion process which converts biomass in the absence of oxygen to methane and carbon dioxide, popularly known as biogas and leaves a stabilized residue which makes an excellent organic manure. Biomethanation process is gaining wider acceptance in the present scenario due to production of biogas, which can be further used for meeting a part of energy demand. Energy has a major economical and political role as an important resource traded worldwide. Biomethanation technology may be perceived as potential alternative as it not only provides renewable source of energy but also utilizes recycling potential of degradable organic portion of waste material. While the performance advantages of biomethanation process has some limitation. For instance, the time needed for start-up of a biomethanation process is too long. If no specifically suitable biomass is available in sufficient quantities, start-up of the system may require up to several months. This effect may become even more pronounced because most specific anaerobic microorganisms are capable of degrading a limited range of substrates. The activity of methanogenic bacteria depends on several factors, i.e. temperature, pH, concentration of substrates/nutrients, etc. It has been found that some additives may also affect the microbial activity of such types of micro-organism. The addition of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and a few trace elements, like iron, manganese, molybodynum, zink, copper, cobalt and nickel accelerated the process of methanogenesis while cyanide and heavy metals at elevated concentration have some toxic effect on biomethanation [1].

Trace metals play an important role in the growth of methanogens and methane formation [2]. For conventional method, the shortage of Fe will be created when methanogenes grew up to about 1.32 gl-1, and Zn, Cu, Ni and Co contents will be lacked when methanogenes grow up to 1.13, 0.12, 4.8 and 30 gl-1, respectively. In conclusion, to achieve a high productivity of methane fermentation, Fe, Cu, Ni and Zn contents in the fermentation liquid should be greatly increased. The effect of various chemicals on biomethanation have been investigated by several scientists. The effect of ammonium molybdate on biomethanation was studied [3]. A study on the effect of cupric nitrate on biogas production from cow dung has been done [1]. The above findings promted us to search out some other additives with a view to enhancing the production of biogas from leafy biomass and vegetable wastes. Ultrasonic disintegration is a well-known method for the break-up of microbial cells to extract intracellular material [4]. The pretreatment of waste activated sludge by ultrasonic disintegration was studied in order to improve the anaerobic sludge stabilization [5]. The ultrasound frequency was varied within a range from 41 to 3217 kHz. Sludge disintegration was most significant at low frequencies. Ultrasonically assisted disintegration increased clearly the amount of soluble chemical oxygen demand of sewage sludge [6]. Considering the above, a study on the effect of ultrasound on biomethanation of cow dung and leafy biomass/ vegetable wastes has been done.

2. Lab Scale Experiments

For lab-scale experimental purpose 500 ml gas wash bottle has been used as an anaerobic digester. Gas wash bottles were filled with PVC Pall Ring to create fixed film inside the reactor. Initially three types of dilution of cow dung and water was taken for experimental purpose. Dilution 1:1 contained one part water with one part cow dung by volume. Dilution 1:5 contained one part cow dung with five parts water and dilution 1:10 contained 10 parts water with one part cowdung accordingly. Dilution less than 1:1 could not use due to slower or no generation of biogas. After charging the different dilution cow dung inside the gas wash bottle digester were anaerobically sealed.

For ultrasound application, one fixed frequency of 43 kHz water bath type ultrasound generator with 1.5 watt intensity has been used. Gas wash bottles with cow dung was kept inside the water bath of ultrasound generator. Another gas wash bottle was kept without ultrasound for comparing purpose. Everyday 15 minutes application of ultrasound was given to the digester. To collect the biogas produced from the digester, another gas wash bottle with volume marked was used. The biogas thus produced, was allowed to pass into the volume marked wash bottle where it was accumulated by

the upward displacement of water, the collector initially being totally filled with water. Total amount of biogas produced by each digester everyday was recorded. Fig-1 shows the cumulative biogas generation from cowdung with 1:10 dilution. It clearly shows that by application of ultrasound biogas generation has been doubled and the start-up time is also reduced to almost half. Simultaneously 1:5 and 1:1 dilutions gives the similar results. But the amount of gas generation is more in case of 1:1 dilution. Fig-2 shows the biogas generation from 1:1 dilution cowdung by application of ultrasound.

E f f e c t o f U ltra s o u n d o n B io m e th a n a tio n o f C o w d u n g w ith 1 :1 0 W e ig h t R a tio

1000

Cumulative Biogas Generation (ml)

900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1 6

C o n tro l U ltra s o n ic

11 16 21 26 31 36 41 46 51 56 61 66 71 76 81 86 91

D a ys

Fig. 1 Cumulative biogas generation from 1:10 cowdung with and without application of ultrasound

Effect of Ultrasound on Biom ethanation of Cow dung w ith 1:1 Weight Ratio Cumulative Biogas Generation (ml) 6000 4000 2000 0 1 11 21 31 41 51 Days 61 71 81 91 101

Control Ultrasonic

Fig. 2 Cumulative biogas generation from 1:1 dilution cowdung with and without application of Ultrasound

Effect of Ultrasound on Biomethanation of Vegetable Waste With 1:1 Weight Ratio

400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1 4 7

Cumulative Biogas Generation (ml)

Control Ultrasonic

10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 Days

Fig. 3 Cumulative biogas generation from 1:1 dilution vegetable wastes by application of ultrasound

Accordingly minced vegetable waste with size upto 10-15 mm has been taken for the experimental purpose. Based on the experimental result of cow dung, 1:1 dilution has been taken for biogas generation from vegetable wastes. Fig-3 shows the biogas generation from vegetable waste by application of ultrasound. Methane content has been estimated by using Orsat Apparatus. 62 to 72 percent methane has been formed by application of ultrasound from vegetable wastes.

4. Testing of Existing 2 T/hr Capacity Mincing Machine

The existing mincing machine has been tested to mince waste & spoiled potato, brinjale, cabbage, bean, cauliflower & its leaves etc. It has been found that the waste vegetables & leaves are minced bellow 10 mm rapidly. Size reduction of existing mincing machine is necessary in order to operate by a 2hp single phase electric motor. The existing patented design of mincing machine is quite suitable for mincing of various vegetables & leaves.

3. Design of Reactor
Different L/D ratio of biogas digester has been studied. Reference L/D ratio for cow dung, banana stem, water hyacinth and eucalyptus leaves has been taken from the book Biogas Manure Plant Based on Agricultural Residues, G. P. Nagori, C. S. Rao, Sarder Patel Renewable Energy Research Institute. Different types of biogas reactors like UASB, KVIC, Plug flow etc. has been studied. Construction manual, published by VITA, 1600 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia 22209 USA has been considered for designing the biogas plant. Fig-4 shows the biogas reactors designed and fabricated for biogas generation from vegetable wastes.

5. Charging & Testing of Reactors

Initially a mixture of 20 kg of vegetable wastes (after mincing), 10 kg of cow dung and 150 lit. water was charged into the each reactors. Methane rich biogas was generated after 40 days of initial charging of materials. Gas was burnt and 10 kg of minced waste vegetables were charged every alternate day. About 2400 cm3 of biogas at 0.06 kg/cm2 was generated every day out of 5kg of minced waste vegetables. The quantity of methane in biogas measured by using Orsat apparatus. About 59 to 70 percent methane has been produced from the minced vegetable wastes. It was noted that all minced waste materials were completely degraded into slurry. Therefore it was found that minced waste vegetables can be degraded easily inside the reactors by bacteria, even without sonication. However methane rich biogas can be generated when temperature of reactors is kept at more than 300C. The color of flame during burning of biogas was green and visible in dark only. The gas was sufficient to burn the stove for 7-10 minutes to boil water. A picture of burning of flame is given bellow (Fig-5).

Fig. 4 Fabricated biogas reactors for vegetable wastes

Two biogas burner has been purchased from Orissa Renewable Energy Development Agency (ORIDA), Bhubaneswar.

biomethanation the start-up time can be reduced and the biogas generation can be increase upto two times.

References
[1] Sudha Singh and S. K. Singh, Effect of cupric nitrate on acceleration of biogas production. Energy Convers. Mgmt. Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 417-419, 1996. [2] Yansheng Zhang, Zhenya Zhang, Keitarou Suzuki and Takaaki Maekawa, Uptake and mass balance of trace metals for methane producing bacteria. Biomass and Bioenergy, Volume 25, Issue 4, October 2003, Pages 427433. [3] Sudha Singh and S. K. Singh, Effect of ammonium molybdate on biomethanation. Renewable Energy, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 441-443, 1995. [4] Harrison S. T. L. (1991), Bacterial cell disruption: a key unit operation in the recovery of intracellular products. Biotechnol. Adv. 9, 217-240. [5] A. Tiehm, K. Nickel, M. Zellhorn and U. Neis, Ultrasonic waste activated sludge disintegration for improving anaerobic stabilization. Wat. Res., Vol. 35, No. 8, pp. 20032009, 2001. [6] Antti Gronroos, Hanna Kyllonen, Kirsi Korpijarvi, Pentti Pirkonen, Teija Paavola, Jari Jokela, Jukka Rintala, Ultrasound assisted method to increase soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) of sewage sludge for digestion. Ultrasonic Sonochemistry, 12 (2005) 115-120.

Fig. 5 Burning of biogas generated out of minced waste vegetables

However sonication has not been done yet. Sonication will be done by using a ultrasonic cleaner, water bath type. Everyday 2 kg of minced vegetable wastes will be sonicated for 10 minutes before charging into the reactor. After comparing the result with and without application of ultrasound the final design of ultrasonically aided biogas reactor for leafy biomass and vegetable wastes will be develop.

6. Conclusions
Based on our results the following conclusions can be drawn. The leafy biomass and vegetable wastes is promising substrate for biogas generation. If sufficient care are taken to ultrasound application on