The positive impacts of biochar addition on biogas production during two-stage anaerobic digestion of cheese waste
Ary Mustofa Ahmad (a), Yusron Sugiarto (a*), Muhammad Havis Maulana (a), Bintang Pamungkas (a), Muthi^ah Mufidah (a), Ria Dewi Andriani (b), Nimas Mayang S. Sunyoto (a)

a) Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Jl. Veteran Malang
*yusronsugiarto[at]ub.ac.id
b) Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Universitas Brawijaya, Jl. Veteran Malang

Abstract

The impact of biochar addition on the two-phase anaerobic digestion of cheese waste was studied through experimentation. The cultures containing biochar were introduced into reactors with a working volume of 60 ml. In the first stage, the cultures were incubated at a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius and a pH of 5 to facilitate hydrogen production. In the second stage, the cultures were subsequently incubation occurred at 35 degrees Celsius and a pH of 7 for methane production. The cheese waste was varied from 0 g to 500 g per L. The biochar addition ratio was varied from 0 to 25 g per L. The daily production of biogas was measured using the volume displacement method. pH of the cultures was measured before and after the experiment. The results showed that biochar addition had a positive effect on biogas production significantly. Biochar addition increased the maximum biogas production rates and biogas yield in the first stage by 26.2 percent and 80.9 percent, respectively. Biochar addition also increased the maximum biogas production rates and biogas yield in the second stage by 12.5 percent and 65.7 percent, respectively. The findings of this research validated the positive impacts of biochar addition on the biogas production of cheese waste with the two-phase anaerobic digestion procedure.

Keywords: Anaerobic digestion- Biochar- Biogas- Cheese waste

Topic: Renewable energy and biorefinery