Production of Methane from Banana Peels by Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion

Abstract

Banana peel is a concentrated source of putrid organic waste; this waste is considered as a source of the energy produced by the process of anaerobic digestion. The objective of this study is the evaluation of methane production by anaerobic digestion of banana peels. The experiment was carried out under mesophilic conditions using a semi-continuous laboratory digester (1.5 L) with a constant agitation that maintains the bacterial activity in the digester and reduces the risk of sedimentation. The treated substrate is obtained from the region of ELGHARB, and it was cut and crushed to particles whose size is less than 1 cm. Throughout the period of the experiment, the pH was around neutrality, between 7.4 and 7.9.  The average value of alkalinity was 1500 mg L^-1 which permits the well function of the process. In addition to the control of stability parameters of the anaerobic digestion, there was also a control of the organic loading rate presented by the total solids (TS) and volatile solids (VS). A daily control of methane production shows that the methanogenic potential is 257 m³ t^-1.