PRODUCTION OF BIOGAS FROM CELLULOSE AND BENZOATE USING ANAEROBIC BACTERIAL CONSORTIA

Abstract

Among the energy sources, the depletion of non-renewable energy is of great concern in thepresent days. The non- renewable energy deposits are continuously depleted by humanwithdrawals. An alarming situation of continuous depletion in the natural resources by anincreased consumption of energy, the urge to look out for alternate ways for energyproduction in on the high stand. Anaerobic bacteria are known to be efficient energyproducers. In the present study, the anaerobic bacterial hydrogen production from differentconsortia isolated from different sources was studied. Anaerobic consortia were isolated fromdifferent sources by inoculating into specific media, Beibl and Pfennigs medium anaerobicallyin the light (2000 lux). Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology (1994) was adopted foridentification of phototrophic bacteria. Growth was determined using UV-Visspectrophotometer at 660nm. The effect of two major substrates i.e. Benzoate and Cellulosehas been investigated. The amount of biogas produced varied with benzoate and cellulose assubstrates. Among the 10(ten) consortia, for most of the consortia cellulose was confirmed tobe utilized as a major substrate for the production of biogas.