OPTIMISATION OF BIOGAS YIELD THROUGH ENZYMATIC PRETREATMENT OF WASTEWATER

Anaerobic digestion is commonly used to produce biogas from organic wastes, which are considered renewable energy sources. However, the slow degradation of complex organic compounds available in organic wastes poses difficulties for this process. Lower biogas yields and longer hydraulic retention times (HRT) are caused mainly due to the complex nature of the substrate. This study considers the possibility of applying enzymatic pretreatment to improve biogas production in anaerobic digestion systems. Enzymatic pretreatment is the process of breaking down complex organic molecules into simpler, more readily biodegradable compounds in hydrolysis steps utilising enzymes, such as cellulases, proteases, and lipases. The rise in biogas production measures the efficiency of the enzymatic pretreatment. According to preliminary findings, enzymatic pretreatment significantly increases the biodegradability of organic waste compared to untreated controls, producing higher biogas yields and shorter HRTs. However, the improvement varies depending on the type of waste and the process parameters used. The enzymatic pretreatment of municipal sludge, pulp and paper sludge, and POME has been reported to improve biogas yield by 23.1%, 26%, and 52.17%, respectively. The HRTs of the above-mentioned anaerobic processes are recorded as 11 days, 62 days, and 38 days, respectively. These results highlight the potential of enzymatic pretreatment as an effective way to maximise biogas production in anaerobic digestion operations. By improving biogas production efficiency, this strategy can support more environmentally friendly methods of managing waste and producing energy. To enhance economic and environmental sustainability, future research will expand the enzymatic pretreatment process and assess its useful applications in industrial anaerobic digestion systems. In addition, more research will look at the best enzyme combinations and dosages to maximise effectiveness and economy in practical applications.