A Study on the Analysis of the Biochemical Methane Potential of the Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)

Hibiscus cannabinus is a forage crop having high biomass production. In this study, biochemical methane potential (BMP) assay of Hibiscus cannabinus was carried out to evaluate the availability as energy croop by anaerobic digestion. Methane potential of Hibiscus cannabinus were 0.202 and 0.181 Nm 3 kg -1 -VS added at the substrate to inoculum (S/I) ratios of 0.3 and 0.5, respectively. Hibiscus cannabinus showed a low methane conversion rate due to its high fiber content. When the nutrient medium was added to the batch anaerobic reactor in order to increase the methane conversion efficiency of Hibiscus cannabinus, methane potential of Hibiscus cannabinus were increased to 0.313 and 0.253 Nm 3 kg -1 -VS added at the S/I ratios of 0.3 and 0.5, respectively.