Production of Biogas from Rice Straw Using Paddy Rice Soil as Inoculant

Abstract

Abstract-This research project is intended to study on the production of biogas from the anaerobic digestion of rice straw using paddy rice soil as the microbial inoculant. The study will be focusing on the identification of available potential feedstock from the research project's location which is Kampung Assum, investigating the suitable parameters for this digestion process and study its effects to biogas production. The parameters for the anaerobic digestion such as the ratio of soil to water and the pH are studied in depth in this research project while the temperature is set to be in a range of 35°C to 38°C for a mesophilic condition to be achieved. The soil to water ratio of 1:1, 1:1.5, 1:2, 1.5:1, and 2:1 have been done in parallel manner in fabricated biodigesters and incubator where 1:2 soil to water has produce the highest yield among all other ratios used. While for the pH study, a control experiment has been conducted intended for the study of the effect of pH on the digestion. Resulting from this study, the desirable initial pH for anaerobic digestion must be exceeding the pH value of 5.5. The combustibility test has shown a positive result where the gas produced is combusted with a blue flame without any foul smell.Index Terms-Anaerobic digestion, rice straw, microbial inoculant.