%0 Journal Article
%T Studies on biomethanation of water hyacinth (eichhornia crassipes) using biocatalyst
%A Santanu Sarkar
%A Saikat Banerjee
%J International Journal of Energy and Environment
%D 2013
%I International Energy and Environment Foundation (IEEF)
%X Water hyacinth is a huge source of biomass in tropical countries. That can be used for biogas production. The aim of this conversion process is to improve the quality, specific energy content, transportability, etc. of the raw biomass source or to capture gases which are naturally produced as biomass is micro biologically degraded. An experimental study on catalytic biomethanation of Water Hyacinth has been carried out in a semi batch digester at different substrate concentration using cow urine as an organic catalyst under controlled pH with in the range of 6.9 to 7.2. The rate of bio gas production varies with different conditions and parameters like temperature, stirring speed, feed concentration, catalyst concentration, etc. It has been found that the catalyst mainly increases the production rate of biogas from water hyacinth. Mathematical analysis of the experimental data on catalytic biomethanation has been done in the present study. Mathematical equations relating maximum specific growth rate and kinetic parameter at different substrate and catalyst concentration have been developed.
%K Anaerobic digestion
%K Water hyacinth
%K Catalyst
%K Biodegradation
%K Biogas
%K Bioreactors
%K Modeling
%U http://www.ijee.ieefoundation.org/vol4/issue3/IJEE_10_v4n3.pdf