AUTHOR=Olatunji Kehinde O. , Madyira Daniel M. 

TITLE=Enhancing the biomethane yield of groundnut shells using deep eutectic solvents for sustainable energy production

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Energy Research

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/energy-research/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2024.1346764

DOI=10.3389/fenrg.2024.1346764

ISSN=2296-598X

ABSTRACT=This study examined the influence of DES pretreatment using choline chloride and ethyl glycerol with the molar ratio of 1: 1 at different solids: liquid ratios and temperatures on groundnut shells' microstructural arrangement and biomethane yield. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were used to study the effects of pretreatment on microstructural arrangements, and the pretreated substrate was digested at mesophilic temperature for biomethane potential. The result of SEM analysis indicated that DES pretreatment alters the microstructural arrangement of groundnut shells, and XRD analysis showed an optimum crystallinity index of 20.71% when solid: liquid ratio of 1:2 was experimentd at 80 °C. The highest theoretical biomethane yield of 486.81 ml CH4 /gVSadded was recorded when 1: 4 solid: liquid was investigated at 100 °C, and highest biodegradability rate (84.87%) was observed from substrate treated with 1: 2 solid: liquid at 100 °C. The optimum biomethane yield of 365.70 ml CH4 /gVSadded, representing a 226.05% increase, was observed from 1: 2 of solid: liquid ratios at 100 °C. Therefore, DES pretreatment using choline chloride and ethyl glycerol is a bright, low-cost pretreatment method for enhancing the biomethane yield of lignocellulose feedstocks.