Halophyte Biomass - a Promising Source of Renewable Energy -

Halophytes are suggested as energy crops in arid saline lands. Anaerobic digestion of 7 halophytes collected in the\nKyzylkum desert (Uzbekistan) were studied in batch-mode tests in mesophilic (35?C) and thermophilic (55?C) conditions with stirring\nand F/M=0.2. Obtained results showed that halophytic biomass should be considered as a valuable renewable source of biogas.\nThough high mineral content was detected in the biomass (i.e., Na+, K+, Cl- and SO4\n2-), total biogas yields in results of anaerobic\ndegradation were about 200-400 mL (at 35?C) and 300-500 mL (at 55?C) from 1 gDM (with 60% of methane-gas). Total organic\nmatter and organic carbon (OC) concentrations were determined to investigate plant biomass. Organic matter concentrations were\nbetween 736-900 mg VS/gDM. The highest organic carbon content found in biomass of Suaeda paradoxa, Atriplex nitens,\nKarelinia caspia and conventional grass Cynodon dactylon were 243.9, 337.6, 394 and 396 mg OC/gDM, respectively. Low OC\ncontent (about 200 mgOC/gDM) was measured in biomasses of Salicornia, Halostachys and Climacoptera. Results indicated that\n40-60% of total organic matter in halophyte biomass can be decomposed into biogas. The highest yield of approximately 300-500\nm3 of biogas from 1 t DM could be produced from Atriplex nitens, Karelinia caspia, Suaeda paradoxa and Cynodon dactylon. After\nconsidering annual biomass yield of the studied plants, their current use, and biogas generation measured in the laboratory, Karelinia\ncaspia (wild associations or cultivated plantations) is recommended as one of the most promising renewable sources for biogas\nproduction in desert salt-affected areas of Central Asia.

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