Optimized biogas production from poultry manure with respect to pH, C/N, and temperature

Abstract

This study aims to identify the optimal conditions for generating biogas from poultry manure with respect to pH, C/N ratio, and temperature. The study was conducted in lab batch bioreactor having a working volume of 2 l at different conditions with respect to pH, carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), and temperature. A full factorial design is designed to analyze the impact of the three parameters and their interactions. Experiments are replicated four times to ensure the reproducibility of data. Results indicate that temperature is the only influencing parameter on biogas production from poultry manure within a pH range of 6–8 and a C/N ratio range of 10/1 to 40/1. Moreover, there is no interaction between the three parameters, and mesophilic conditions are found to be the optimum conditions for biogas production. The maximum biogas yield of 285 ml/g VS is found in mesophilic conditions at 37 °C with a retention time of 20 days. Biogas production kinetics are similar in mesophilic and thermophilic conditions but vary in psychrophilic conditions.

Keywords

• Bioreactor
• Biogas
• Thermophilic
• Mesophilic
• Psychrophilic
• Full factorial design poultry manure