Enhanced anaerobic
co-digestion of rice straw by alkaline thermal pre-treatment
Saidkhilli Hamasa and Dhanya M.S.
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 20(6); 37-41;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/206rjbt037041; (2025)
Abstract
The carbon content in the rice straw is a good feedstock for biogas production by
anaerobic digestion. The study evaluated the impact of sodium hydroxide (5% w/v)
pre-treatment of rice straw at 121oC for 15 minutes on biogas production from anaerobic
co-digestion with cattle dung in 2:1 ratio. The anaerobic co-digestion was performed
at a loading rate of 15% (w/v) and a temperature of 33±2°C for hydraulic retention
time of 50 days. The alkaline thermal pre-treatment of rice straw prior to co-digestion
had improved biogas production by 3.34 folds than the cattle dung.
The Scanning electron microscopic images confirmed the degradation of cellulosic
fibres in the structural composition of rice straw. The alkaline thermal pretreatment
improved delignification of rice straw and resulted in higher biogas production
for energy from lignocellulosic waste to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals.
