Investigation on Anaerobic Co-digestion Potential of Halotolerant Microalgae Chlorosarcinopsis eremi with Paddy Straw

The prime focus of the study was to evaluate the biogas production potential of halotolerant microalgae Chlorosarcinopsis eremi (MN832495) isolated from the waterlogged area samples of southwest Punjab. Mono and co-digestion of microalgae with paddy straw in different ratios was investigated under mesophilic conditions for a period of 05 months from January to May 2019. Modified Gompertz equation was used to study the kinetics of the anaerobic process. The results recorded higher biogas yield during co-digestion of microalgal biomass and paddy straw. The Gompertz equation revealed that digester having microalgae and paddy straw in the ratio 6:1 had the highest biogas production (P) of 214.30 mLg^-1VS with maximum biogas production rate (R_m) of 8.76 mLg^-1 d^-1 and lag phase (λ) of 12.10 days as compared to control digester A (P = 77.31 mLg^-1, R_m= 3.14 mLg^-1d^-1, lag phase (λ)=13.60 days. The process resulted in decrease of total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content while ash and silica content increased after the anaerobic digestion.