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Energy Procedia 61 (2014) 1229 – 1233

The 6th International Conference on Applied Energy – ICAE2014

Feasibility of Biogas Production from Napier Grass

Vanatpornratt Sawasdeea and Nipon Pisutpaisalb,c*
a
School of Renewable Energy Technology, Faculty of Science,
Naresuan University, Tha Pho, Muang, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
b
Department of Agro-Industrial, Food and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Applied Science,
King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand
c
The Biosensor and Bioelectronics Technology Centre,
King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, 10800, Thailand

Abstract

The current study focused on the feasibility of biogas production from Napier grass. Napier grass, a tropical plant,
can grow up in drought and dry conditions. Napier grass contains 30.9% total carbohydrates, 27% protein, lipid
14.8%, total ash 18.2%, fiber 9.1% (dry weight). Its organic compositions are an ideal feedstock for biogas
production. The fresh grass was harvested after 5 week plantation, grounded in 0.5 to 1 mm diameter size before
fermentation in mesophilic batch reactors, with varying solid concentrations of 5 - 15 %. The optimum condition for
the biogas production was found at 5% solid concentration. Methane content, yield and production rate were 53%,
122.4 mL CH4/g TVS remove, 4.8 mL/hr at the optimum condition. Economic analysis of biogas obtained from the
experiment with liquid petroleum gas (LPG) with benefit/cost ratio (B/C ratio) greater than 1 suggested that the
Napier grass is considered as a potential energy crop.

©
© 2014
2014TheTheAuthors. Published
Authors. by Elsevier
Published Ltd. This
by Elsevier Ltd.is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).
Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of ICAE
Peer-review under responsibility of the Organizing Committee of ICAE2014

Keywords: Napier grass; mesophillic batch reactor; anaerobic sludge; benefit/cost ratio
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Introduction

Anaerobic digestion is a biological process to degraded organic matter by microorganism under anoxic
condition. Biogas utilization was replacement for fossil fuels in heat and power generation as well as
vehicle fuel, thus contributing to decreased emissions of greenhouse gases and low climate change [1].
Thailand has large amount and wide variety of agricultural feed stocks for biogas production. There are

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +66 2 587 8257; fax: +66 2 587 82 57.
E-mail address: npp@kmutnb.ac.th.

1876-6102 © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the Organizing Committee of ICAE2014
doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2014.11.1064
1230 Vanatpornratt Sawasdee and Nipon Pisutpaisal / Energy Procedia 61 (2014) 1229 – 1233

many potential energy crops, which suitable for biogas production including: sugarcane, sorghum, Napier
grass, as well as, tree crops. The important parameter to choosing energy crops for biogas production is
the net yield per hectare, high nutrient, as well as cultivation [1]. The energy crops should be easy to
cultivate, harvest and store, tolerant to drought, and be able to grow on soil of poor quality with low
nutrient. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is a species grown for energy crops (livestock), with high
nutrient content such as carbohydrate and protein [2], and easy to cultivation. Napier grass can absorb
carbon dioxide up to 42% and has high productivity of 87 ton/ha/year [3]. Therefore, Napier grass was
intriguing to biogas production. The purpose of this study was examined the feasibility the optimum
condition of Napier grass as energy crops for biogas production, including the possibility of economic
value in the use of Napier grass as energy crops.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Source of agricultural

Napier grass was obtained from Department of livestock development. The plant cut already grow
approximate 2 meters. Napier grass was pulverized into small particles before use. Napier grass was 5%,
10%, and 15% by weight after pulverize it.

2.2. Microbial seed

The microbial seed was obtained from up flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) Malee Sampran
Company. The microbial seed was prepared in the similar manner to previous study [4].Microbial seed
was screen coarse matter >0.5mm diameter by sieving and granules were washed with tap water [5].

2.3. Batch fermentation

The batch fermentation was setup in glass bottles (500 ml working volume) with varying Napier grass
content in the range of 5-15 %TS). The bottles were flushed with nitrogen gas to generate anaerobic
conditions. CH4 fermentation was conducted at 37°C with rotary magnetic bar. During the experiment,
total gas volume and composition were periodically monitored by gas counters and gas chromatography,
respectively [5].

2.4. Analytical and calculations

The analysis of biogas production from Napier grass should be examining parameters that influence
the system. Total solid (TS), volatile fatty acids (VFAs), pH, and alkalinity were determined according to
the standard methods. Biogas content (H2, CH4, and CO2) was measured every 12 h using a gas
chromatography (Shimadzu GC-2014, Japan) equipped with a thermal conductivity detector (TCD) with
Unibeads C 60/80. Helium was used as a carrier gas. The temperature of injector port and detector were
120 and 150°C, respectively. VFAs were analyzed by gas chromatography (Shimadzu GC-2010 system
equipped with flame ionization detector using Stabiwax DA capillary column Restek, USA) [5].
 Vanatpornratt Sawasdee and Nipon Pisutpaisal / Energy Procedia 61 (2014) 1229 – 1233 1231

2.5. Kinetics of gas production

The modified Gompertz equation was used to fit cumulative methane production data obtained from
each batch experiment. This model has long been used for describing methane, or biogas production in
batch fermentation experiments [6].

2.6. Economic analysis

There are two factors present as criteria for Cost – Benefit Analysis [7]:
a) Net present value (NPV): The net present value (NPV) method for evaluating the desirability of
investments is defined in eq. 1,

N B
NPV ¦ n  TIC (1)
n 1 (1i )n

where; Bn = expected benefit at the end of year n; TIC = total initial cost (investment); i = discount rate,
i.e., the required minimum annual rate on new investment; n = project’s duration in years; N = project’s period.
b) Benefit to Cost Ratio (B/C ratio)
This formulation (eq. 2) gives a measure of the discounted benefits of discounted costs.

PVC
B/C ratio (2)
PVB

where; PVB = present value benefit, PVC = present value cost

3. Result and discussion

3.1. Optimum solid loading

The biogas production with 5% TS of Napier grass was evolved the biogas production and become the
highest production on 120 h (Fig 1). The biogas production was decreased when the TS content was
increased. Maximum cumulative methane was obtained at 5 %TS. Comparative of biogas production in
this study was higher than previously reported. In previous reported biogas production from Napier grass
was 171 ml [8]. The trend of cumulative CH4, production rate and yield was contrasted with total solid.
The alkalinity in the system was 1,080, 1190 and 673.3 mg CaCO3/L for 5, 10, and 15 %TS, respectively.
These alkalinity can be controlling the pH for optimum condition. Therefore, Napier grass 5 % TS was an
optimum condition for biogas production.

3.2. Kinetics of methane gas production

Kinetics (Hm, Rm, and yield) of methane gas production, calculated by Modified Gompertz equation,
was summarized in Table 1. The highest kinetics paraments was achieved at 5 % TS. The results
indicated that total solid content influenced the grass fermentation and methane production, and the
optimum TS content for the fermentation was 5%.
1232 Vanatpornratt Sawasdee and Nipon Pisutpaisal / Energy Procedia 61 (2014) 1229 – 1233

400
300

Cumulative
CH4(ml)
200
100
0
0 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108 120
Time (h)

Fig. 1. Cumulative methane production from Napier grass at TS 5 ( ), 10 ( ), 15 ( ) %. Symbols represent mean
values of duplicate experiments, and error bars represent one standard deviation.

Table 1. Summary of kinetics methane production parameters at varying total solid content

TS (%) Hm (ml) Rm (ml/h) Yield (CH4/g TVS)

5 354.1±12.4 4.8±0.2 122.4±5.2

10 167.8±15.2 2.8±0.3 91.2±9.1

15 27.8±1.67 0.3±0.01 52.6±0.6

3.3. Analysis of economic feasibility

Napier grass can be grown for biogas production. It was substituted for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
The costs of equipment for biogas production from Napier grass were 112.9 US$; it was replaced LPG
282.8 US$/year. In term of cost to maintain Napier grass was 77.4 US$ per year. Napier grass was grow
87 ton/ha/year. Net Present Value (NPV) is a formula used to establish the present value of the
investment by the discounted sum of all cash flows received from the project. The evaluation of NPV was
accepted when the value was positive. The NPV in case of landed was 39,216.4. The economics of biogas
production in this case was break even the investment. In case of no area for growth of grass, it is high
cost more than landed case. The costs of the area between 387.1 to 1,161.3 US$ per 0.16 ha were suitable
for growth of grass. The NPV in case of no area was showed in Table 2. In term of B/C ratio was greater
than 1 suggested that the Napier grass is considered as a potential energy crop.

Table 2. Net present value in each price of area

Price of area per 0.16 ha ( US$) NPV

387.1 27,216.38
516.1 23,216.38
645.2 19,216.38
774.2 15,216.38
903.2 11,216.38
1,032.3 7,216.38
1,161.3 3,216.38
1,290.3 -783.62
 Vanatpornratt Sawasdee and Nipon Pisutpaisal / Energy Procedia 61 (2014) 1229 – 1233 1233

4. Conclusion

This study successfully demonstrated the fermentation of Napier grass was optimum at 5%TS based on
the kinetics parameters. Economic analysis indicated that the costs of equipment for biogas production
from Napier grass were 112.9 US$; it can be replaced LPG 282.8 US $/year. In term of cost to maintain
Napier grass was 77.4 US$ per year. Napier grass can grow 87 ton/ha/year. It was a high production rate
per year. B/C ratio was greater than 1 suggested that the Napier grass is considered as a potential energy
crop.

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Faculty of Applied Science (Research grant fiscal
year B.E 2556), King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, for the financial support.

References

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[2] Okaraonye and Ikewuchi. Nutritional and Antinntritional components of Pennisetum purpureum (Schumach). Pakistan
Journal of Nutrition. 2009; 8(1): 32-34.
[3] Department of Livestock Development. Napier grass. Thailand: 2006.
[4] Wattanaphon H and Pisutpaisal N. Production of Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) Biopolyester from Glycerol using Anaerobic
Sludge Seed. Research Journal of Chemistry and Environment. 2014; 18(3): 103-111.
[5] Nathao C, Sirisukpoka U, Pisutpaisal N. Production of hydrogen and methane by one and two stage fermentation of food
waste. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2013;38:15764-69.
[6] Lay JJ, Lee YJ, Noike T. Feasibility of biological hydrogen production from organic fraction of municipal solid waste.
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[8] Rekha BN and Aniruddha BP. Performance Enhancement of Batch Anaerobic Digestion of Napier Grass by Alkali Pre-
Treatment. International Journal of ChemTech Research. 2013; 5: 558-564.

Biography
Asst. Prof. Nipon Pisutpaisal is a lecturer of Department of Agro-Industrial, Food and
Environmental Technology, Faculty of Applied Science, King Mongkut’s University
of Technology North Bangkok. He is also an affiliate staff at the Joint Graduate
School of Environment and Energy (JGSEE), King Mongkut’s University of
Technology Thonburi. He obtained his Ph.D. degree (Environmental Engineering)
from The Pennsylvania State University, USA in 2003. 86. Asst. Prof. Nipon
Pisutpaisal is specialized in Biological Wastewater Treatment, Anaerobic Digestion,
Bio-hydrogen Energy, and Fermentative Bioenergy Technology.