الملخص الإنجليزي
The increased demand for fossil fuel due to its huge importance in global energy has caused
many problems to the environment both locally and globally. This study investigated the feasibility of the
anaerobic co-digestion using rise husks as a biomass waste source and ostrich dung as a source of inoculum for
biogas production as renewable energy. Samples of grounded RH were pretreated with ultrasound, hydrothermal,
combined hydrothermal-ultrasonic, NaOH (3% w/v) and combined 3% NaOH-ultrasound pretreatment. The
cumulative production of biogas for the pretreated samples was 44.19, 39.5, 46.3, 47.16 and 52.38 ml/g VS,
respectively. The results stated the increase in biogas generation by 50.72, 34.72, 57.91, 60.85 and 78.65%,
respectively, as compared to untreated sample that produced 29.32 ml/g VS of biogas. The results of methane
productivity, which were 30.73, 26.78, 32.24, 32.91 and 37.3 ml/g VS, respectively; for the pretreated samples
with the same arrangement mentioned above, caused an increment by 66.11, 44.76, 74.27, 77.89, 101.62%,
respectively, as compared to methane yield of the untreated sample that resulted in 18.5 ml/g VS. It was
observed that there was well compatibility between estimated and predicted values for methane (> 0.95) using
modified Gompertz model. The improvements in biogas and methane yield pointed out the anaerobic co
digestion of rice husks after pretreatment inoculated with ostrich dung is a promising technology to produce
renewable energy. The use of ostrich dung encouraged biogas productivity. In addition, Biogas can reduce
environmental pollution by managing wastes.
