(748e) Hydrochloric Acid Pretreated-Digested Carica Papaya Petioles, Towards Holistic Biogas Potential Assessment Frameworks

This presentation describes research that explores the hypothesis that simple feedstock pretreatment-digestion methods can be applied to rapidly evaluate biochemical biogas potential of anaerobic digestion in resource constrained development. Biomass feedstock, i.e. Carica papaya petioles were obtained from Edo State, Nigeria. Samples were analyzed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy after hydrochloric acid pre-treatment towards characterization of spectra with characteristic absorbance ratios indicative of physicochemical changes in biomass that include cross-linked lignin ratio, the lateral order index, and hydrogen bond intensity. Cumulative biogas yields from samples were fit to the modified Gompertz form to derive mathematical parameters related to biological reactor performance. Optimum sample treatment results in a 150% increase in biogas yield compared to yields from non-pretreated Carica papaya petioles. Overall, results suggest that rapid biogas potential assessment can be performed in a few days-time and provides for a visual means to characterize individual digestions in a constrained research setting and collaboration. Collaborative efforts are in support of larger sustainability goals and assessment in complex socio-economic models.