A. AMATHUSSALAM and M.N. ABUBACKER
Abstract
Current topic of interest under waste management is the bioconversion of cellulosic waste materials to readily usable fuel product namely, methane (biogas). Experiments to produce methane using vegetable and fruit wastes of market in Tiruchirapalli were conducted. Wastes were mixed with cow-dung and water (w/v) and loaded into the lab-scale fermentors to produce methane. Biogas produced in 30 days of fermentation was 820 CC per 250 g of market waste with 52 per cent methane at 35° + 1° C. Effect of various chemical pretreatment on the market wastes revealed that sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO,) enhanced biogas production to 1240 CC per 250 g of market waste with 57 per cent methane in 30 days at 350 + 1°C with increase in bacterial population of Clostridium butyricum and Methanobacterizim ruminatum. Anaerobic fermentation of these market waste materials with effective chemical pre-treatment can serve the dual purpose of reducing environmental pollution as well a source of renewable energy.