Open Access

Optimization of anaerobic digestion under psychrophilic conditions using plant biofilms: evaluation of biogas yield and quality in a rural tubular biodigester

Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas (UNTRM)

Abstract

This study evaluates the performance of a tubular biodigester operating in psychrophilic conditions, incorporating plant lianas as biofilm support to improve the anaerobic digestion of bovine manure. A 12 m³ biodigestion system was constructed in Chachapoyas, Peru, and loaded with a manure:water mixture (1:5). Physicochemical parameters, the production and quality of biogas, were monitored, and the study applied the Gompertz model to describe the kinetic behavior. The results show that, despite operating at average temperatures of 16.95 °C, the system reached its hydraulic retention time (HRT) in just 15 days, generating 3 m³ of biogas with a daily production of 0.2–0.3 m³. Purification reduced H2S by 75 % and purified methane reached 68.18 %, its suitability for domestic energy use. The Gompertz model adequately adjusted the data (R² = 0.9992), projecting a potential production of 3.89 m³. The use of plant biofilms improved microbial retention and process stability, suggesting a low-cost solution with high replicability in cold rural areas.

Keywords

How to Cite

Altamirano-Cubas, A., Vergara Medina, G. A., Gosgot Angeles, W., & Iliquin-Fernandez, R. E. (2025). Optimization of anaerobic digestion under psychrophilic conditions using plant biofilms: evaluation of biogas yield and quality in a rural tubular biodigester. Renewable Energy, Biomass & Sustainability, 7(2), 28–39. https://doi.org/10.56845/rebs.v7i2.658

References

📄 Abdurrakhman, A., Sutiarso, L., Ainuri, M., Ushada, M., & Islam, M. P. (2024). Design of a pressure control system in biogas reactor based on PID controller with Ziegler–Nichols and auto tuning PSO. Jurnal Otomasi Kontrol dan Instrumentasi, 16(2), 104–116. https://doi.org/10.5614/JOKI.2024.16.2.5
📄 Abendroth, C., Latorre-Pérez, A., Porcar, M., Simeonov, C., Luschnig, O., Vilanova, C., & Pascual, J. (2020). Shedding light on biogas: Phototrophic biofilms in anaerobic digesters hold potential for improved biogas production. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 43(1), 126024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.syapm.2019.126024
📄 Abera, G. B., Trømborg, E., Solli, L., Walter, J. M., Wahid, R., Govasmark, E., Horn, S. J., Aryal, N., & Feng, L. (2024). Biofilm application for anaerobic digestion: A systematic review and an industrial scale case. Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts, 17(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-024-02592-4
📄 Adamu, A. A., James, J. G., Olupinla, F. S., & Iyanda, P. O. (2025). Modelling biogas production from organic waste substrates using the Gompertz equation: Parameter estimation and methane composition analysis (Issue 1).
📄 Alvarez, R., & Lidén, G. (2008). The effect of temperature variation on biomethanation at high altitude. Bioresource Technology, 99(15), 7278–7284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.12.055