Studies on biomethanation potential of liquid composite waste from corn glucose factory

Abstract

The present work was undertaken to study the biomethanation potential of liquid composite waste from a corn glucose factory. One litre capacity biogas digesters were used for testing of biomethanation potential of the waste. It was found from the results that satisfactory amount of biogas is produced at optimum retention time of 25 days, at pH 7.5 and at 38°C ambient temperature. Scale-up studies on biomethanation of the waste in 5 L, 25 L and 125 L biogas digesters showed that the percent methane content of the biogas gradually increases. The biomethanation of liquid composite waste of glucose factory was found to be effective and capable to reduce organic load of the waste effectively than aerobic treatment process currently existing at the factory site.