Evaluation of the Potentiality of Tree Leaves for Biogas Production

Abstract

The objective of this study was to utilise various tree leaves for biogas production and to compare the potentiality among the various leaves for producing biogas. It was found that digester slurry with leaves and cowdung at 8% total solid concentration would be the optimum concentration for better and efficient biogas production. At 8% slurry level, Leucaena leucocephala leaves with cowdung at 1:1 ratio produced maximum amount ofbiogss with lower percentaee of methane. Up to 35 days of digestion Acacia auriculifarmis leaves produced 41% more gas in total than cow dune and Leucaena leucocephala produced 18% more. In respect ofVFA concentration and degree of volatile matter degradation Dalbergia sissoo is also capable of yeilding biogas. But very high concenteration of VFA and low pH retarted the activities of methanogens. Eucalyptus leaves has proved to he hardly degradable for biogas production. The high content of volatile solid and hollocellulose and highest C:N ratio justify its hard nature.