Anaerobic digestion of semi-dried banana leaves in sewage water under the influence of certain additives

Abstract Anaerobic digestion of semidried banana leaves in sewage water was carried out in the laboratory. Eight numbers of reactor vessels, two each forming a group, were used for the purpose. The first group of vessels contained 500 ml of sewage water and 50 g of the ground banana leaves. Each of the other three groups of vessel, in addition to sewage water and ground banana leaves in quantities as mentioned above, received urea (2% by dry weight of banana leaves), FeCl3 (15 mg) and urea + FeCl3 in proportions as specified above, separately. The investigation aimed at assessing the quantity and quality of biogas evolutions from the reactors as a consequence of anaerobic digestion under the influence / no influence of additives. The rate of biogas evolution and the CH4-lag-phase were also assessed experimentally. The volume and volume rate of biogas evolution were seen to be the minimum in the absence of additives and increased for urea, FeCl3 and urea + FeCl3 additions in that order. FeCl3 additions exhibited augmentation in the volume and volume rate of biogas generation. The CH4-lag-phase in the anaerobic digestion process was seen to decrease under the influence of the additives.