ABSTRACT
The hydrolysis of organic waste followed by anaerobic digestion can produce hydrogen or methane depending on the nature of operating conditions, the nature of microorganisms present, and the nature of feedstock. Anaerobic digestion (in the absence of oxygen) with anaerobic bacteria or methane fermentation is used worldwide for disposal of domestic, municipal, agricultural, and industrial biomass wastes. This reaction generally produces methane and carbon dioxide, and it also occurs in the ecosystem as well as in the digestive tract. This chapter examines the effects of microbes, operating conditions, nature of feedstock, methods of harvesting, storage and pretreatment, co-digestion, and digester technology on the biogas production. The pH of the reacting solution has also significant effects on the effectiveness of bacteria and methane production. The anaerobic digestion process best operates between pH of 6.5 and 8.5 with an optimum value between 7 and 8.
