Posters

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Methane Enrichment of Bio-gas Using a Single-stage Bio-electrochemical System

Presenter: Dr. Yogesh C. Rotliwala, Ph.D., Principal, Pacific School of Engineering

Authors: 

*Dr. Yogesh Rotliwala, Ph.D., *Mr. Nikhil Agrawal, *Mrs. Neha Agrawal, **Mr. Hemant Jariwala, *Mr. Dharmendra Parekh 

*Chemical Engineering Department, Pacific School of Engineering, Kadodara, Surat, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad-382424 India.

**Chemical Engineering Department, Government Engineering College, Valsad, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad-382424, India.

This study presents the effect of integrating a bio-electrochemical system (BES) with conventional anaerobic digester (AD). The comparison study for raw bio-gas enrichment and its cumulative volume was carried out for two separate digesters: combined AD-BES and an Only-AD, both operated for 25 days in a laboratory condition (30oC ± 5 oC). The cow dung/water slurry (50 % mass) was used as inoculum and wheat flour was added as substrate at a frequency of 3 gm/day. In contrast to AD (64 v/v% CH4), the results showed that combined AD-BES increasing the concentration of CH4 by 82 v/v%, thereby decreasing the concentration of CO2 by 15 v/v% (considering 3 v/v% other gases) at supplied voltage of 0.4 V over the 25 days of digestion period. Study also showed that cumulative volume of bio-gas generation in AD-BES was 66.7% higher than Only-AD upon supplied voltage of 0.3 V. The results revealed that BES integrated with an AD digester improves the bio-gas quality (CH4 content) and volume of bio-gas.    

Dr. Yogesh C. Rotliwala, doctorate in chemical engineering (SVNIT, Surat), presently working as a Principal at Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad affiliated Pacific School of Engineering, Surat. He has total 25 years of experience including industrial, teaching and research. His major research focuses are in the area of bio-fuel, nanoemulsion, waste water treatment and solid waste management. More than 25 publications, research grant of costing 50 lakh including travel grant from DST for USA and 2 Indian patents are credited to his profile. He has bagged a national award from various prestigious organizations such as Ministry of Chemicals and fertilizers, ISTE, GTU, IIChE. In the field of environmental pollution control, he has successfully completed various consultancy projects for the State Pollution Control Board.