Potential evaluation of biogas production through the exploitation of naturally growing freshwater macroalgae Spirogyra varians

Algae are a great choice for biofuel production because they are readily available and easy to grow. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of algal biomass could provide energy and minimize waste in a green and sustainable biorefinery. AD was used to assess macroalgal biomass as a biomethane source. Spirogyra's biotechnological and industrial applications have recently gained the attention of researchers and used macroalgae as a sustainable biomass source for biogas, or third-generation biofuel. It was turned into biogas in slow-running freshwater streams. The prospect of using Spirogyra varians, macroalgae, for biogas production was examined. S. varians' biochemical and nutritional composition reveals a significant amount of pigments, dietary protein, carbohydrates, and minerals. Furthermore, with S. varians biomass as a mono-substrate for biogas production, the most significant methane yield of 64.76% was achieved without any pretreatment; it was enhanced to 69.4% after pretreatment. As a result, S. varians was identified as a viable energy crop for biogas production due to its rapid growth, greater biomass yield, and rich nutritional components and organic matter.

Automated summary

Algae, particularly Spirogyra varians, are a promising option for biofuel production, specifically biogas. S. varians possesses rich nutritional components and organic matter, along with rapid growth and high biomass yield.