Optimizing Rumen Fluid Inoculation for Enhanced Biogas Production Using Organic Waste Codigestion

Rumen fluid’s extensive microbial community, which contains a variety of anaerobic microbes that can decompose complex organic materials, makes it very beneficial for increasing the production of biogas. Current biogas production methods often face challenges such as insufficient methane yield and slow degradation rates, primarily due to limitations in microbial diversity and activity within the anaerobic digestion process. The use of rumen fluid as an inoculum addresses these limitations by introducing a rich diversity of anaerobic microorganisms that are naturally adapted to break down complex organic materials more efficiently. Enhancement of biogas production from organic wastes by adding rumen fluid influences the synergistic microbial communities present in the fluid, which are highly effective at breaking down complex organic materials. Rumen fluid contains various microorganisms, including bacteria, protozoa, and fungi that facilitate anaerobic digestion, improving the degradation of organic solids and increasing biogas yield. The objective of the study is to enhance biogas production using rumen fluid as a microbial inoculum during the codigestion of organic wastes. The study focused on optimizing rumen fluid amount for better biogas production during fermentation reaction with cow manure and formulating the best mixes of fruit and vegetable wastes with cow manure for codigestion. The biogas pressure was read using a pressure gauge, and the produced biogas was collected for further analysis. The physiochemical analysis revealed that cow manure and FVW had the highest percentages of organic carbon and volatile solids, which directly contribute to biogas production. The best level of rumen fluid inoculum was found for a 20‐L fermenter, with 7.5 L being an adequate level for a 20‐L reactor. The study shows the importance of biogas production using locally available wastes to subsidize energy demand, remove unwanted waste, and produce a healthy environment.