Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Lignocelluloses are the major components of different wastes generated from various industries, forestry, agriculture and municipalities. Hydrolysis of these materials is the first step for digestion to biogas (methane). However, enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocelluloses without pretreatment is usually not effective due to high stability of the materials to enzymatic or bacterial attacks. The C:N ratio of various agro wastes is also an important factor which decides biogas output of a substrate. Chicken feather hydrolysate, an additive enhances biogas production by supplementing nitrogen/amino acid requirements. Bagasse is the residue after cane juice extraction from sugar cane processing industries, which are at present not properly utilized. Pretreatment of bagasse exposes the cellulose making it accessible to cellulase enzyme. Both chemical and biological pretreatments are possible. Similarly adding chicken feathers obtained as poultry slaughter wastes considerably enhances biogas production. Powdered bagasse was deglinified using 1% sodium hydroxide, neutralized and the resulting material is mixed with acid hydrolysed chicken feathers and biomethanated. The chicken feather is hydrolyzed using 0.5 m sodium sulfide. The gas produced is quantitated by water displacement method. Pleurotus florida fungi was grown on crushed bagasse for 15 days in the presence of 1.5% lactose, 0.5% urea and 0.1% cupric chloride and the resulting material is mixed with chicken feather hydrolysate and biomethanated. The gas is quantitated by water displacement method. Compared to control (non delignified bagasse without chicken feather hydrolysate) there was substantial increase in biogas production using both chemically and biologically delignified bagasse. In case of biologically delignified bagasse, increase in biogas production is less compared to chemically delignified bagasse. Compared to control, there was considerable increase in biogas production after supplementing chicken feather hydrolysate in both chemical and biologically delignified bagasse. Pretreatment of bagasse results in improved biogas production. Chemical method is faster, effective and cheaper than biological method. Chicken feather hydrolysate as nitrogen/amino acid additives enhances biogas from the delignified bagasse.

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