Sugarcane bagasse has emerged as an alternative for the production of renewable fuels such as biogas from anaerobic digestion. In relation to the biogas production rate, Total Solid (TS) of feedstock and digestate temperature are the two important factors which affect the biogas production significantly. In the present paper, laboratory level experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of temperature and TS on the biogas generation from lignocellulosic biomass such as sugarcane bagasse. Firstly, the gas production rate was studied under controlled temperature environment with TS concentration of 6%, 9% and 12%. Secondly, the effect of temperature on biogas production was studied and the digesters were maintained at constant temperature of 35 °C, 40 °C, 45 °C, 50 °C and 55 °C. The present study shows that under controlled environment, biogas production is the highest with 9% TS concentration. It is also seen that temperature plays a significant role in biogas production by anaerobic digestion.

As fossil fuel is depleting gradually due to its over use, its cost is increasing day-byday. Therefore, researchers from all over the world are looking for some alternative sources of energy. Biogas is a renewable energy which is a perfect alternative source of energy in the current scenario. It is clean and pollution-free, and is produced from anaerobic digestion of biodegradable materials such as biomass, manures, sewage, municipal waste, green waste, plant material and energy crops. Anaerobic digestion mainly takes place at either mesophilic (25 °C-40 °C) or thermophilic temperatures (45 °C-60 °C), although it can take place in psychrophilic condition (12 °C-30 °C) too (Usman et al., 2012). Garba (1996) found that at thermophilic temperature, biogas production from lignocellulosic material was the maximum. Previously, several researchers like Hashimoto et al. (1981), found higher digestion rate, improved solid setting and higher destruction of pathogen in the thermophilic temperature. So, for design of biogas generation, temperature is a very important parameter.

This paper deals with the feasibility of utilization of lignocellulosic biomasses such as sugarcane bagasse as feedstock for biogas production. Bagasse is a fibrous biomass which is obtained after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract juice. Everyday, the cane sugar industry produces a large amount of bagasse; for example, if 10 tons of sugarcane are crushed, nearly 3 tons of wet bagasse are produced as a byproduct (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagasse). Although bagasse has got its application in many areas like production of pulp, paper, board, boxes, partitions, etc., researchers worldwide are showing interest in biogas production from this biomass because of its high volatile matter content. Anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass for biogas production has attracted much interest in recent years. Anaerobic digestion technology is widely adopted for treatment of lignocellulosic material for biogas production.

Mechanical Engineering Journal, Anaerobic digestion, Biogas, Feedstock, Total Solid (TS), Temperature, Lignocellulosic biomass.