ISSN 2348–2370

Vol.10,Issue.01,
January-2018,
Pages:0022-0025

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Biogas Generation and Main Factors Affecting in the Production of Biogas: Review
TADDESE GIRMAY TEKLEHAIMANOT
Dept of Chemistry, Adigrat University, P.O. Box 50, Adigrat, Ethiopia, E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Due to scarcity of petroleum and coal, different degradable organic matter depends on the amount and kind
researcher finds alternative sources of energy like renewable of the material added to the system [9].
energy source. Biogas is types of renewable energy that can
be produced using anaerobic digestion process from raw II. BIOGAS GENERATION
materials such as agricultural wastes, manure, municipal Biogas is a mixture of different gases produced by the
waste, plant material, sewage, green waste and food waste. breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen that
The gas produced has high energy content and can be used in can be produced from raw materials such as agricultural
many applications such as heating, cooking, power wastes, manure, municipal waste, plant material, sewage,
generation, lighting, and a biofuel. The conversion of green waste and food waste. It is renewable energy source
complex organic compounds into methane and carbon and in many cases exerts a very small carbon foot print [10].
dioxide requires different groups of micro organisms and is Biogas can be produced by anaerobic digestion with
carried out in a sequence of hydrolysis, acidogenesis, anaerobic organism[7]. The anaerobic digestion process
acetogenesis and methanogenesis. Biogas generation is involves placing the waste organic material in tanks or
affected by different factor such as temperature, feed digesters protected from oxygen and maintaining the digester
materials, pressure, moisture content, carbon to nitrogen temperature [11]. The gas produced has high energy content
ratio and pH. and can be used in many applications such as heating,
cooking, power generation, and lighting and as a biofuel that
Keywords: Biogas, Anaerobic Digestion, Feeds, Methane, can be injected into the gas network of city [12]. The product
Temperature, pH, Moisture Content. of anaerobic digestion is a mixture of methane and carbon
dioxide with small quantity of gases such as hydrogen,
I. INTRODUCTION hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, ammonia, water and nitrogen as
Due to scarcity of petroleum and coal it threatens supply shown in table 1.
of fuel through out of the world also problem of their
combustion lead to research in different corners to get access TABLE I: Composition of Biogas [13]
the new source of energy like renewable energy source [1].
This renewable energy source needs to be developed in
parallel with the exhaustion of energy source of fossil origin
[2]. Many developing countries people do not have access to
modern energy source. They use traditional resource like
fuel wood and coal [3]. The search for alternative renewable
energy source is needed not only for replacement of fossil
fuels, but also to meet environmental protection demands
[4]. Biomass which produced in anaerobic digestion The gas methane, hydrogen and carbon dioxide can be
facilities can be used to replace energy derived from fossil combusted or oxidized with oxygen. This energy release
fuels. Biomass is organic matter derived from living allows biogas to be used as a fuel. Also it can be used in a
organisms. It can be used as a source of energy and most gas engine to convert the energy in the gas into electricity
often refers to plants [5]. Organic wastes such as dead plants, and heat [14]. Anaerobic digestion is a process of controlled
animals, biodegradable wastes including sewage sludge, composition of biodegradable materials under
kitchen waste and cattle dung can be converted into a managed conditions where free oxygen is absent at a
gaseous fuel called biogas [6]. Biogas can be produced by temperature suitable for natural occurring mesophilic or
anaerobic digestion with anaerobic organisms [7]. Biogas thermophilic a facultative bacteria and Achaea species that
generating is a favorable dual purpose at present: the biogas convert the inputs to biogas and whole digestate. The
generated can be used to meet energy requirements while the optimum environmental conditions are essential for
organic residue is a useful fertilizer and it is mainly successful operation of anaerobic digestion. The conversion
composed of methane and carbondioxide [8]. The production of complex organic compounds which are found in organic
of methane during the anaerobic digestion of biologically wastes into methane and carbon dioxide requires different
groups of micro organisms and is carried out in a sequence

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 TADDESE GIRMAY TEKLEHAIMANOT
of four stages: hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and In addition to these, biogas technology is the key for the
methanogenesis. transformation of organic waste into high quality fertilizer
and environmental protection of soil, water, air and wood
Hydrolysis: is the process of breaking the chains and vegetation. And also micro-economical benefits through
dissolving the smaller molecules into the solution. During energy and fertilizer substitution additional income source
this stage, complex organic matters such as carbohydrates, and increasing yields of animal husbandry and agriculture
proteins and lipids converted into soluble organic molecule [21]. Economical biogas uses as generation of income
such as sugars, amino acids and fatty acids by the action of through compost and energy sales such as electricity and
extra cellular enzyme that is amylase, protease and lipase heat to public grids. Increase local distribution of fertilizer,
[15]. chemical herbicide and pesticides demand. Treatment of
solid wastes without long-time follow-up costs usually, due
Acidogenesis: In this stage the product of the hydrolysis to soil and water pollution [22].
such as sugars, long chain fatty acids and amino-acids are
converted into acetate, other volatile fatty acids (VFAS), V. THE MAIN FACTORS IN THE PRODUCTION OF
alcohols, hydrogen and carbondioxide by acid forming BIOGAS
bacteria [16]. A. Sub-layer Composition (slurry)
The feed stock used to produce biogas through anaerobic
Acetogenesis: The simple molecule which created through fermentation process (digestion) should ensure a favorable
the acidogenesis phase are further digested by the acetate environment for the development and optimal metabolic
forming microorganisms convert alcohols, volatile fatty activity of microorganisms which involved in the process.
acids such as butyric acid, propionic acid and valeric acid The fermentation medium must contain biodegradable
into acetate, carbondioxide and hydrogen [17]. organic matter, have a pH between 6.8 and 7.3, and
carbon/nitrogen ratio should be between 15 and 25, and
Methanogenesis: This is the terminal stage of anaerobic should not contain inhibitors substance for microorganisms
digestion of the biological process uses the intermediate (detergents, antibiotics, antiseptics etc) [23].
product of the preceding stages such as hydrogen and acetate
(most important substrate) and produce methane and B. Temperature
carbondioxide [18 and 19]. Temperature choice and control are critical to the
development of anaerobic digestion process, having a strong
III. CHARACTERISTIC OF BIOGAS influence over the quality and quantity of biogas production.
The composition of biogas is depend up on the feed The microorganism which is participating in the process of
materials; change in volume as a function of temperature and anaerobic digestion specially methanogenic ones, are divided
pressure, change in calorific value as function of into cryophilic: operating at a temperature from 0-15 Co,
temperature, pressure, and water vapour content, change in mesophiles: operating at a temperature between 15-40 Co
water vapour as a function of temperature and pressure. characteristic area for mesophilic regime digestion, and
It is odorless and colorless gas that burns with 60% thermophiles: operating a temperatures between 40-60 Co
efficiency in conventional biogas stove. This gas is useful to characteristic area [24]. The anaerobic digestion has more
substitute firewood, cow-dung, petrol, diesel and electricity advantage under thermophilic regime compared to
depending on the nature of the task and local supply mesophilic or cryophilic regimes. This is due to more
conditions and constraints. Biogas digester system provides reduced retention time, the digestion process being faster and
a residue organic waste after its anaerobic digestion that has more efficient, better digestion of solid sub-layer and their
superior nutrient quality over normal organic fertilizer, as it more efficient use, effective destruction of the weeds seeds
is in the form of ammonia and can be used as manure. and pathogens, and better possibility for separation of liquid
Anaerobic biogas digester also functions as waste disposal and solid fraction. By selecting a lower operation
systems, particularly for human wastes and can therefore, temperature reduction of inhibition can be achieved [25].
prevent potential contamination and the spread of pathogens
and disease causing bacteria. Biogas technology is C. Hydraulic Retention time (HRT) and Solid Retention
particularly valuable in agriculture residual treatment of Time (SRT)
animal excreta and kitchen refuse (residuals) [20]. The two parameters have major important in the design of
biological treatment process. The hydraulic retention time is
IV. IMPORTANCE OF BIOGAS the average range in which the sub-layer for anaerobic
A. Biogas Technology digestion process is retained in the digester. Sub-layers
Biogas technology is commonly used for replace traditional containing simple compounds are easily decomposed and
energy source like fire wood and animal dung thus require a short hydraulic retention time. While sub-layer
contributing to combat deforestation and soil depletion. containing one complex compounds are harder decomposing
Biogas can contribute to replace fossil fuels so emission of and requires a longer hydraulic retention time. The solid
green house gas and other harmful emission. By taping retention time is measure of biological system capability to
biogas in biogas plant and using it as a source of energy, reach certain standards concerning the effluents and maintain
harmful effects of methane on the biosphere are reduced. a satisfactory rate of pollutants biodegradation.
International Journal of Advanced Technology and Innovative Research
Volume. 10, IssueNo.01, January-2018, Pages: 0022-0025
 Biogas Generation and Main Factors Affecting in the Production of Biogas: Review
 Hydraulic retention time is a key factor in the design scum will form on the surface of the substrate. This scum
process. Anaerobic digestion uses for digestable and may prevent effective mixing of the charge in the digester
hard complex organic pollutants. While solid retention [26].
time is the control parameter in the design process for VI. CONCLUSION
readily digestible organic elements[26]. Along hydraulic Many developing countries people have used traditional
retention time involves a larger volume of the reactor resource like fuel wood and coal access rather than modern
and additional thus costs. The digester works with short energy source. However, Organic wastes such as dead
hydraulic retention time, without risk of microbial plants, animal’s wastes and biodegradable wastes can be
mass removing. converted into modern energy source that is called biogas.
 Retention time is chosen so to ensure the condition that Biogas can be produced by anaerobic digestion with
number of the removed microorganisms with digestate anaerobic organisms and its product is a mixture of methane
(digested material) may not be greater than the number and carbon dioxide with small quantity of gases such as
those resulted by duplication (rate of anaerobic hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, ammonia, water and
microorganism involved in biogas production at least nitrogen. The gas produced has high energy content and can
ten days). The retention time must adapt to be used in many applications such as heating, cooking,
decomposition rate of the raw material used [27]. power generation, and lighting and as a biofuel that can be
injected into the gas network of city. The optimum
D. The Reaction Medium of pH conditions such as feed materials; change in volume as a
In anaerobic digestion all life processes are carried out at function of temperature and pressure, change in calorific
well-designed values of pH. The pH of the optimal hydrolitic value as function of temperature, pressure, and water vapour
stage is between 5 and 6 [28]. For methane production stage, content, change in water vapour as a function of temperature
the optimal pH value varies between 6.5 and 8 [29]. If the and pressure are essential for successful operation of
pH value decreases below 6, methane production is strongly anaerobic digestion. The conversion of complex organic
inhibited. In the hydrolytic stage, the acidogenic bacteria compounds which are found in organic wastes into methane
require a pH in the range of 5.5-7.0 and a final stages and carbon dioxide requires different groups of micro
methanogenic. The pH must meet the requirements of the organisms and is carried out in a sequence of four stages:
populations of microorganisms that coexist in the digester hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis.
[30]. The temperature of reaction medium influence the pH In addition to this, Biogas can contribute to replace fossil
value, while the temperature increase the carbondioxid fuels so emission of green house gas and other harmful
decrease. During the digestion process, the pH value may emission.
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International Journal of Advanced Technology and Innovative Research
Volume. 10, IssueNo.01, January-2018, Pages: 0022-0025