The Effects of Using Pretreated Cotton Gin Trash on the Production of Biogas from Anaerobic Co-Digestion with Cow Manure and Sludge
Muhammad Usman Hanif,
Mohammed Zwawi,
Mohammed Algarni,
Ali Bahadar,
Hamid Iqbal,
Sergio C. Capareda,
Muhammad Adnan Hanif,
Adeel Waqas,
Nazia Hossain,
Muhammad Tahir Hussain Siddiqui,
Sabzoi Nizamuddin,
Asma Jamil
Affiliations
Muhammad Usman Hanif
Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Sector H-12, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Mohammed Zwawi
Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Algarni
Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia
Ali Bahadar
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia
Hamid Iqbal
Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Sector H-12, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Sergio C. Capareda
Bio-Energy Testing and Analysis Laboratory (BETA Lab), Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Muhammad Adnan Hanif
School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
Adeel Waqas
Center for Advanced Studies in Energy, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 45710, Pakistan
Nazia Hossain
School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
Muhammad Tahir Hussain Siddiqui
School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
Sabzoi Nizamuddin
School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
Asma Jamil
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Islamabad Campus, Bahria University, Islamabad 45710, Pakistan
Anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) has been practiced for decades to convert waste into value-added energy products, especially biogas. This study aimed to assess the potential of biogenic methane (CH4) production from the co-digestion of pretreated cotton gin trash (CGT), cow manure, and sludge. CGT contains high cellulosic content, making it a reliable feedstock for biogenic methane production. To further improve the biogas quantity and quality, the CGT was subjected to physical pretreatments, i.e., hot water (HW), ultra-sonication (US), and a combination of both (HW+US). After 91 days of AcoD, 79–110 L of biogas was produced by the treatments. Among the treatments, HW+US-pretreated CGT presented maximum biogas production capacity, at 110 L. Besides, this treatment showed the high-quality biogenic CH4 content, 52.4% of the total biogas volume, with an improved conversion rate of 0.37 L/g of volatile suspended solids consumed. In addition, this study discussed the structural changes in feedstock due to pretreatments and correlated them with the corresponding biogenic methane production. The study reports the potential of pretreated CGT conversion to CH4. It will impact the circular economy by contributing to on-farm energy requirements and reducing the financial expenditures incurred in this regard.
