Feasibility analysis and experiment of anaerobic digestion of Spartina alterniflora

In order to transform Spartina alterniflora, an invasive species widely distributing on Chinese coast, into clean energy, the feasibility of anaerobic digestion of S. alterniflora was analyzed by its biological structure using the SEM and its chemical composition using the Elementor and ICP-AES, at the same time the anaerobic batch digestion experiments were carried out at 35℃. The results of structural observation and chemical composition analysis suggested that S. alterniflora possessed the elementary characteristics as anaerobic digestion feedstock, but its high sodium content (22683 mg/kg) and C/N ratio (58.45) could be the potential limiting factors to anaerobic digestion. The results of anaerobic digestion experiments show that S. alterniflora can be biodegradable and 251 ml/g TS of biogas yield and reduction of 41.3% in total solids were achieved. It can be concluded that S. alterniflora can be transformed into energy by anaerobic digestion.