Comparative biochemical analysis during the anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass from six morphological parts of Williams Cavendish banana (Triploid Musa AAA group) plants

Abstract

Significance statement: In this original paper, we present the biochemical composition and potential methane production from the anaerobic digestion of each type of lignocellulosic waste from a banana cultivar (Williams Cavendish: triploid Musa AAA group). These wastes are usually abandoned in the plantation after the fruits have been harvested. There is great interest in obtaining energy from this generally neglected biomaterial, particularly in the contexts of global warming and sustainable development. 2Abstract: We studied banana lignocellulosic biomass (BALICEBIOM) that is abandoned after fruit harvesting, and assessed its biochemical methane potential, because of its potential as an energy source. We monitored biogas production from six morphological parts (MPs) of the "Williams Cavendish" banana cultivar using a modified operating procedure (KOP) using KOH. Volatile fatty acid (VFA) production was measured using high performance liquid chromatography. The bulbs, leaf sheaths, petioles-midribs, leaf blades, rachis stems, and floral stalks gave total biogas production of 256, 205, 198, 126, 253, and 221 mL g −1 dry matter, respectively, and total biomethane production of 150, 141, 127, 98, 162, and 144 mL g −1 , respectively. The biogas production rates and yields depended on the biochemical composition of the BALICEBIOM and the ability of anaerobic microbes to access fermentable substrates. There were no significant differences between the biogas analysis results produced using KOP and gas chromatography. Acetate was the major VFA in all the MP sample culture media.The bioconversion yields for each MP were below 50%, showing that these substrates were not fully biodegraded after 188 d.The estimated electricity that could be produced from biogas combustion after fermenting all of the BALICEBIOM produced annually by the Cameroon Development Corporation-Del Monte plantations for 188 d is approximately 10.5×10 6 kW h (which would be worth 0.80-1.58 million euros in the current market). This bioenergy could serve the requirements of about 42000 people in the region, although CH 4 productivity could be improved.

Fresh banana pseudo-stems as a tropical lignocellulosic feedstock for methane production

“…The main components in the banana stem were cellulose (30.08 %), hemicelluloses (27.79 %), and poor lignin content (6.08 %) ( Table 2), making banana stems an ideal candidate for methane generation because of its low lignin content. Similar values have been reported in other studies wherein banana residues were used as feedstock in AD [16]. The ash content of the banana stem is about 20 % expressed on DM which is presented mainly by potassium, calcium, and silicium salts that are considerably high when compared with other agricultural straw [24].…”

“…(1 m 3 = 35,900 kJ) or 0.63 GWh year −1 (1 m 3 = 9.97 kWh) [16]. Paying cognizance of a conversion efficiency of 43 %, the yearly energy recovery from banana stem could amount to 0.27 GWh year −1 .…”

“…Studies on the AD of banana waste most often reported the pre-dried banana stem used as a substrate for methane production [6,15,16]. Since the banana stem is bulky in nature, the main constraint in the value chain will be drying to reduce bulkiness and ease of transport.…”

Microwave Pretreatments of Switchgrass Leaf and Stem Fractions to Increase Methane Production

“…Similarly, the cellulose-to-glucose yield from the freeze-dried stems (including leaf sheaths) of switchgrass was 20% lower than the yield from leaves, after a dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment (Yang et al 2009). For banana wastes (Kamdem et al 2013) and wheat straw (Motte et al 2014) treated with anaerobic digestion, the types of plant parts strongly affected the amount of methane produced. Thus, it is very important for the improvement of biofuel production that different pretreating strategies were required, depending on the structure characteristics of different morphological fractions of lignocellulosic biomass.…”

Comparative study of the methane production based on the chemical compositions of Mangifera Indica and Manihot Utilissima leaves

“…According to many authors, solid wastes of vegetal origin represent a high potential energy resource if they can be properly and biologically converted to methane (Gunaseelan 2004; Barakat et al 2012; Chandra et al 2012; Kamdem et al 2013). They are renewable and therefore their net CO 2 contribution to the atmosphere is nil.…”