Experimental evaluation of substrate’s particle size of wheat and rice straw biomass on methane production yield

Authors

  • Ram Chandra College of Agricultural Engineering & Post Harvest Technology (Central Agricultural University), Ranipool, Gangtok- 737 135, Sikkim, India
  • H. Takeuchi Division of Energy Science, EcoTopia Science Institute, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464–8603, Aichi, Japan
  • T. Hasegawa Division of Energy Science, EcoTopia Science Institute, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464–8603, Aichi, Japan
  • V. K. Vijay Centre for Rural Development & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, India

Keywords:

wheat and rice straw, biomass particle size, anaerobic digestion, methane yield

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of particle sizes in substrates on methane production yields of wheat and rice straw biomass without any other applied pretreatment. Anaerobic digestion of three different mean particle size (MPS) substrate of 1.5 mm, 0.75 mm, and 0.30 mm of wheat and rice straw biomass was carried out at 37 oC mesophilic temperature. The observed result revealed that mean particle size of 0.30 mm, and 0.75 mm had increased methane production yield by 4.7%, and 38.7%, respectively, compared to 1.50 mm particle size of wheat straw. However, in case of rice straw substrates the methane production yield was found 7.9%, and 13.0% higher, respectively, for mean particle size of 0.30 mm, and 0.75 mm, compared to 1.50 mm particle size. Mean particle size of 0.75 mm had yielded highest biogas as well as methane yields in both cases of biomass, however, wheat straw resulted into considerably higher methane yield than rice straw.

Author Biography

Ram Chandra, College of Agricultural Engineering & Post Harvest Technology (Central Agricultural University), Ranipool, Gangtok- 737 135, Sikkim, India

Assistant Professor (Renewable Energy)

Department of Farm Power & Machinery

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Published

2015-06-23

Issue

Section

IV-Energy in Agriculture