RECENT TRENDS IN CONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE INTO BIOENERGY USING ANAEROBIC DIGESTION WITH PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION

The present study investigated the conversion of agricultural waste into renewable bioenergy through anaerobic digestion with performance optimization.The study addressed the environmental problems associated with improper disposal of agricultural residues and examined their potential as substrates for biogas production. Agricultural residues including rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, corn stalks, vegetable waste, and cattle manure were considered for physicochemical characterization and anaerobic digestion. Feedstock characteristics including carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, volatile solids, pH, moisture content, total solids, and chemical oxygen demand were considered in evaluating digestion suitability. Pretreatment was applied to improve the accessibility of lignocellulosic biomass, including mechanical size reduction and alkaline treatment using sodium hydroxide. Anaerobic digestion was evaluated under mesophilic conditions, and process optimization was performed using Response Surface Methodology with Central Composite Design.