Thalassic biogas production from sea wrack biomass using different microbial seeds: Cow manure, marine sediment and sea wrack-associated microflora

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2013-04, Vol.133, p.612-617
• Main Authors: Marquez, Gian Powell B., Reichardt, Wolfgang T., Azanza, Rhodora V., Klocke, Michael, Montaño, Marco Nemesio E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal productions; Animals; Bacteria - metabolism; Biofuel production; Biofuels - microbiology; Biogas; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; Cattle; Energy; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Geologic Sediments - microbiology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Manure - microbiology; Marine; Marine sediment; Methane; Methane - biosynthesis; Microorganisms; Sea water; Sea wrack; Seaweed; Seaweed - metabolism; Seaweed - microbiology; Sediments; Seeds; Use of agricultural and forest wastes. Biomass use, bioconversion
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.01.082

► First report on sea wrack biomass utilization for biogas production in the Philippines. ► Biogas production of sea wrack is possible using seawater as liquid substrate. ► Marine sediment proved to be the most appropriate microbial seed used. ► Island communities, where freshwater are scarce, could be helped by this technology. Sea wrack (dislodged sea grasses and seaweeds) was used in biogas production. Fresh water scarcity in island communities where sea wrack could accumulate led to seawater utilization as liquid substrate. Three microbial seeds cow manure (CM), marine sediment (MS), and sea wrack-associated microflora (SWA) were explored for biogas production. The average biogas produced were 2172±156mL (MS), 1223±308mL (SWA) and 551±126mL (CM). Though methane potential (396.9mLCH4g−1 volatile solid) computed from sea wrack proximate values was comparable to other feedstocks, highest methane yield was low (MS=94.33mLCH4g−1 VS). Among the microbial seeds, MS proved the best microbial source in utilizing sea wrack biomass and seawater. However, salinity (MS=42‰) observed exceeded average seawater salinity (34‰). Hence, methanogenic activity could have been inhibited. This is the first report on sea wrack biomass utilization for thalassic biogas production.