Enhancement of Methane Production Potential from Napier Grass and Napier Grass Silage with Liquid Hot Water Pretreatment

Journal article

Authors/Editors

Strategic Research Themes

Publication Details

Author list: Nantiyapond Tinrung;Ruenrom Lerdlattaporn;Navadol Laosiripojana;Suppanut Varongchayakul;Warinthorn Songkasiri

Publication year: 2021

Journal: KMUTT Research and Development Journal (0125-278X)

Volume number: 44

Issue number: 2

Start page: 237

End page: 261

Number of pages: 25

ISSN: 0125-278X

URL: https://digital.lib.kmutt.ac.th/journal/loadfile.php?A_ID=983

Abstract

Napier grass is a fast-growing grass that contains high levels of organic compounds, particularly, structural carbohydrates, and exhibits potential to be used as a substrate for renewable energy production. In addition, napier grass can be converted into silage, which has gained attention as a feedstock for biogas production. However, both napier grass and napier silage are categorized as lignocellulosic materials that are recalcitrant to degradation by anaerobic digestion. To enhance their degradation and hence biogas production, liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment was applied to break down and partially solubilize polysaccharides. Optimization of the process was performed to obtain a high amount of total xylose derived from hemicellulose component, along with lower concentrations of inhibitors, i.e., furfural (FF) and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Our experimental results revealed that the amount of total xylose and concentrations of inhibitors increased with increasing LHW temperature (140-200 °C) and time (0-30 min). Optimum LHW pretreatment condition for napier grass and napier silage was noted at 200 °C for 15 min; such a condition resulted in the highest amount of total xylose, lower concentrations of FF and HMF, and more than 90% hemicellulose removal. Biochemical methane (CH4) potential analysis of the untreated and LHW-pretreated napier grass and napier silage showed that the CH4 yields from the LHW-pretreated napier grass and napier silage increased by 16% and 23%, respectively.

Keywords

การปรับสภาพ, การย่อยสลายแบบไร้อากาศ, แก๊สชีวภาพ, ลิกโนเซลลูโลส