Valorization of pineapple peel and poultry manure for clean energy generation

• Published in: Food and energy security 2022-02, Vol.11 (1), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Dahunsi, Samuel O., Ogunwole, Joshua O., Owoseni, Abimbola A., Olutona, Godwin O., Nejo, Yewande T., Atobatele, Oluwatosin E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Alternative energy sources; Animal wastes; Biofertilizers; Biogas; Biomass; Biotechnology; Cellulose; Chemical oxygen demand; clean and affordable energy; Clean energy; climate action; Digestion; Economics; Energy; Enhancers; Environmental degradation; Environmental management; environmental sustainability; Fertilizers; Fossil fuels; Fourier transforms; Fruits; Hemicellulose; Hydrogen peroxide; Infrared spectra; Infrared spectroscopy; Lignin; Lignocellulose; Manures; Microorganisms; optimization; Pineapples; Poultry; Poultry manure; Pretreatment; Raw materials; Renewable energy; Renewable resources; Resource management; Sodium hydroxide; Sulfuric acid; Sulphuric acid; Thermal energy; Variables; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 2048-3694; 2048-3694
• DOI: 10.1002/fes3.228

The quest for renewable energy generation is fast increasing globally due to environmental degradation by fossil fuels. The energy production from the anaerobic codigestion of pineapple peels (PPs) and poultry manure (PM) was assessed in the present study. Prior to digestion, the PPs were pretreated using a strong acid (sulfuric acid) and a low‐cost mild alkali hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which was prepared via the adjustment of the pH of H2O2 to 11.5 by adding solution of 5 M NaOH. The physicochemical and structural parameters of the biomass, as well as microbial composition, were evaluated by using standard methodologies, while all structural changes to the biomass after pretreatment were determined using the Fourier transform infrared spectra. The application of alkaline H2O2 pretreatment removed 71.34% of lignin, reduced hemicellulose by 61%, but increased the cellulose content by 39%. The alkaline pretreated pineapple peel (Al‐P PP) was able to produce about 91% more biogas than the acid pretreated pineapple peel (Ac‐P PP) and 36% more than the two untreated biomass samples. The results of the economic assessment of pretreatment also showed that investment into the use of H2O2 for pretreatment is economically feasible with high net thermal and electrical energy gain, while that of acid pretreatment results in loses. Therefore, alkaline pretreatment application to PPs prior to digestion is hereby solicited in the biotechnological conversion of PPs/wastes for biogas and quality digestate which can be used as biofertilizers or soil enhancers especially in those regions where pineapple production is enormous. Pineapple waste and poultry manure are abundant bioresources constituting gross environmental menace. This study evaluated their valorization into high value‐added biogas and digestate fertilizer for crop and soil improvement.