Biogas can be produced from the biomass of plant origin (either terrestrial biomass or aquatic biomass) or animal origin (cattle dung, domestic sewage, organic manure, poultry, slaughter house and fishery wastes, etc. ).

An enormous quantity of sugarcane wastes is produced in the sugar mills. Sugarcane bagasse and molasses are the two important wastes. Bagasse is the cellulosic material of sugarcane produced after the extraction of the sugar juice. It is used for the production of biogas, alcohols, single cell protein (SCP), etc.

Sugarcane molasses contains about 50-55% fermentable sugars and hence is an important source for the production of liquid fuel, alcoholic beverages and animal feed.

Similarly, straw, agricultural wastes, forest litter, aquatic weeds like water hyacinth, Pistia, Salvinia, etc., and cyanobacteria are also the common raw materials used for the production of biogas.

Table of Contents

9.0 - Introduction
9.1 Common Methods of Biogas Formation
9.2 Raw Materials and Substrates
9.3 Producer Gas
9.4 Methane
9.5 Plants as Sources of Hydrocarbons

Chapter 10