1Assistant Professor, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. 9787510931
2UG Student, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
3Professor, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
*E mail ID: mythili_sao@yahoo.in
Online published on 16 February, 2022.
Maize cob is a ligno-cellulosic wastes available in India. In the present study, properties of maize cob were determined as per standard test methods. Based on the values, maize cob was pre-treated with potassium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, and phosphoric acid in 1, 2, 3%v/v concentrations for 24 h. Pre-treatment with 3%v/v potassium hydroxide was efective in enhancing the availability of cellulose (57%). Anaerobic digestion of the alkali pre-treated maize cob showed potential of enhanced methane generation (0.0202 m3.kg−1 of TS) by three times using the conventional cow dung slurry as inoculum source. The bio-digested slurry contained (nitrogen (0.04–0.07%), and phosphorus (0.012–0.02%) and, potassium (0.01–0.03%)) macro-nutrients, and proved to have potential of use as organic manure.
Maize cob, Pre-treatment, Potassium hydroxide, Anaerobic digestion, Bio-digested slurry
