The feasibility of putrescible components of municipal solid waste for biomethane production at Hyderabad, Pakistan

This study analyzes the feasibility of putrescible components of municipal solid waste (PCMSW) such as food waste (FW) and yard waste (YW) for methane production in Pakistan. The batch experiments have been conducted at two different inoculums to substrate ratios (ISRs) by using various inoculums under mesophilic condition. The highest methane yield of FW and YW is achieved to be 428 Nml g(-1) volatile solids (VS) added and 304 Nml g(-1) VS added respectively by using buffalo dung inoculum at ISR-5. While, lowest methane yield of FW and YW is obtained as 236 Nml g(-1) VS added and 151Nml g(-1) VS added respectively by using effluent from a continuous stirrer tank reactor as inoculum at ISR-3. The first order decay model has been introduced, which gives best fit for methane potential of PCMSW with buffalo dung inoculum. Additionally, the feasibility of PCMSW in terms of power generation potential has been analyzed. About 60.63 million m(3)/year energy can be generated by converting PCMSW into methane gas leading to power generation. The finding of this study concludes that the replacement of imported energy and reduction up to 1.62% in other primary energy sources would be achieved, if PCMSW are properly converted into energy through anaerobic digestion in Pakistan.