4.5.4 Biosensors
Success of biogas production process involves monitoring of volatile fatty acids and
organics present during the fermentation process. Presently the available monitoring
methods are gas chromatography (Diamantis et al. 2006), spectroscopy (Falk et al.
2015; Stockl and Lichti 2018), and HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) (Zumbusch et al. 1994; Schiffels et al. 2011), but these methods do not provide
real-time monitoring; thus, indecision among the plant operators takes place. For
monitoring of accumulation of biogas intermediates, organic acid biosensors were
developed to manage the association between these process stabilities and
intermediates which have resulted in numerous studies being carried out for the
optimization and expansion of an organic acid biosensor, including enzyme assembly for exact discovery of formate, ethanol, and D/L lactate, contrary to the partial
concentration of the VFA (volatile fatty acid) biosensors (Crable et al. 2011; Pilas
et al. 2017; Kaur et al. 2013). These analytes are identified during microbial fuel cells
(Kaur et al. 2013), microbial electrolysis cells (Jin et al. 2017), or soften oxygen
probes with a powerless biofilm (Sweeney et al. 2018), while enzyme-based sensors
were intended for the irregular purpose of individual substrates, like propionate and
acetate (Mizutani et al. 2001; Mieliauskiene et al. 2006; Sode et al. 2008).
4.5.5 Nanotechnology
Nanoparticles can enhance degradability of organic matter present in the municipal
waste and thereby increase rate of biogas production. Use of iron nanoparticles for
biogas production is newer aspect wherein concentration of CH 4 and biogas production is improved using nanoparticles in an anaerobic digester. Traditional biogas
production process can convert only 30–40% of the biomass into gas, and the energy
potential of generated biogas is also low. Addition of iron into the digester can
enhance biogas production, but there might be toxicity to the functional groups of
bacteria present in the rector. To overcome this issue, biodegradable nanoparticlebased delivery system is being utilized, so that problems like inhibition of bacterial
activity can be minimized by production of ions into the reaction medium.
4.6
Biogas Production from Municipal Solid Waste
Municipal solid waste contains heterogeneous mass of organic matter and composed
of kitchen scraps, food residue, food processing wastes, grass cuttings, etc. which
can be degraded at the faster rate, whereas organic matter such as coarser wood,
paper, and cardboard is degraded at slower rate. Moreover, municipal solid waste
also comprises of inert fraction like stones, glass, sand, metal, etc. Metals from the
municipal solid waste can be recycled using metal re-claimers, whereas other
materials like stone, sand, etc. can be utilized as building material.
4 Biogas: An Effective and Common Energy Tool – Part II
115
Success of biogas production process involves monitoring of volatile fatty acids and
organics present during the fermentation process. Presently the available monitoring
methods are gas chromatography (Diamantis et al. 2006), spectroscopy (Falk et al.
2015; Stockl and Lichti 2018), and HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) (Zumbusch et al. 1994; Schiffels et al. 2011), but these methods do not provide
real-time monitoring; thus, indecision among the plant operators takes place. For
monitoring of accumulation of biogas intermediates, organic acid biosensors were
developed to manage the association between these process stabilities and
intermediates which have resulted in numerous studies being carried out for the
optimization and expansion of an organic acid biosensor, including enzyme assembly for exact discovery of formate, ethanol, and D/L lactate, contrary to the partial
concentration of the VFA (volatile fatty acid) biosensors (Crable et al. 2011; Pilas
et al. 2017; Kaur et al. 2013). These analytes are identified during microbial fuel cells
(Kaur et al. 2013), microbial electrolysis cells (Jin et al. 2017), or soften oxygen
probes with a powerless biofilm (Sweeney et al. 2018), while enzyme-based sensors
were intended for the irregular purpose of individual substrates, like propionate and
acetate (Mizutani et al. 2001; Mieliauskiene et al. 2006; Sode et al. 2008).
4.5.5 Nanotechnology
Nanoparticles can enhance degradability of organic matter present in the municipal
waste and thereby increase rate of biogas production. Use of iron nanoparticles for
biogas production is newer aspect wherein concentration of CH 4 and biogas production is improved using nanoparticles in an anaerobic digester. Traditional biogas
production process can convert only 30–40% of the biomass into gas, and the energy
potential of generated biogas is also low. Addition of iron into the digester can
enhance biogas production, but there might be toxicity to the functional groups of
bacteria present in the rector. To overcome this issue, biodegradable nanoparticlebased delivery system is being utilized, so that problems like inhibition of bacterial
activity can be minimized by production of ions into the reaction medium.
4.6
Biogas Production from Municipal Solid Waste
Municipal solid waste contains heterogeneous mass of organic matter and composed
of kitchen scraps, food residue, food processing wastes, grass cuttings, etc. which
can be degraded at the faster rate, whereas organic matter such as coarser wood,
paper, and cardboard is degraded at slower rate. Moreover, municipal solid waste
also comprises of inert fraction like stones, glass, sand, metal, etc. Metals from the
municipal solid waste can be recycled using metal re-claimers, whereas other
materials like stone, sand, etc. can be utilized as building material.
4 Biogas: An Effective and Common Energy Tool – Part II
115