GENERATION OF BIOGAS FROM SALVINIA-MOLESTA (MITCHELL) ON A COMMERCIAL BIOGAS DIGESTER

The 1st successful experiments utilizing the water-polluting aquatic weed S. molesta for generation of biogas in a commercial digester are described. The experiments were carried out in a 3 m3 capacity, semicontinuous type, commercially-built biogas digester. The digester was primarily designed and marketed for biogas production from cow and buffalo dung. It was utilized with minor modifications to generate odorless combustible biogas from S. molesta. The process parameters, e.g., weed: water ratio, pre-feeding treatment of weeds (to facilitate feeding) and temperature laboratory scale digesters, were utilized for conducting the trials in the commercial digester. Experiments were also carried out with a unique feed biomass consisting of Salvinia with no animal dung additive.