Production of methane from anaerobic digestion of jatropha and pongamia oil cakes

The experimental study was carried out on anaerobic digestion of jatropha (Jatropha curcas) and pongamia (Pongamia pinnata) oil seed cakes in a 20 m3/d capacity floating drum biogas plant under mesophilic temperature condition. The average specific methane production potential of jatropha oil seed cake was observed as 0.394 m3/kg TS and 0.422 m3/kg VS. The average content of methane and carbon dioxide in the produced biogas over 30 days of retention time period was found as 66.6% and 31.3%, respectively. Cumulative methane yield over 30 days of retention time period was found as 131.258 m3 with a 259.2 kg of input volatile solids, with an average total volatile solids mass removal efficiency of 59.6%. However, in case of pongamia oil seed cake average specific methane production was observed as 0.427 m3/kg TS and 0.448 m3/kg VS. The average value of methane and carbon dioxide content in the produced biogas over 30 days of retention was found as 62.5% and 33.5%, respectively. Cumulative methane yield over 30 days of retention time period was found as 147.605 m3 with a 255.9 kg of input volatile solids, with an average total volatile solids mass removal efficiency of 74.9%.