Biogas Generation Potential from Tapioca Processing Industry Wastes in Tamil Nadu M.M.C.Rajivgandhi 1 , M.Singaravelu 2 and R.Kiruthika 3 1,3 Research scholar, 2 Professor, Department of Bioenergy, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore- 641 003. Abstract In this study over 100 industries were surveyed belonging to different sago associations like Salem, Attur, Namakkal, Rasipuram, Thammampatti and other parts of Tamil Nadu, India. There are nearly about 1000 sago and starch processing factories are in operation in Tamil Nadu. Sago industries use huge quantities of water during the production of sago and release wastewater. The average production capacity of industries present in Salem sago industries was found to be 6.7 tons per day, 7.6 tons per day by the Namakkal sago industries, 8.2 tons per day by the Attur sago industries, 10.5 tons in Rasipuram industries and 6.3 tons per day by the industries present in Thammampatty and other areas. For the processing of one ton of tapioca, 20 - 25 m 3 of effluent is generated. The total quantity of biogas that can be generated from the surveyed 100 Tapioca processing unit effluent is 12,627 m 3 /day. The estimated potential of biogas production found to be 101 lakhs m 3 /day. Keywords: Sago, Tapioca Wastes, Biogas 1. Introduction Tamil Nadu produces 40 lakh tonnes of tapioca out of 60 lakh tonnes annually in India. In Tamil Nadu, Salem district alone contributes 34,000 hectares of land under tapioca cultivation. Tamil Nadu stands first in respect of processing of tapioca into starch and sago, hence this crop has now acquired a status of one of the most important commercial crops in the state. There are about 1000 sago and starch industries in Tamil Nadu, in which 650 to 800 industries are located in and around Salem and Namakkal district. Production of Sago and starch from tapioca generates enormous quantity of wastewater which requires treatment before disposal. The treatment of the wastewater obtained from different industrial processes is vital in safeguarding public health and the natural resources. Non-treating of these wastewater contains high organic, inorganic and toxic constituents that creates serious harm to the environment and human health. Industrial wastewater treatment systems employ aeration systems for the treatment in order to reduce excess concentration of pollutants present in the wastewater. Since it is an energy guzzling part in the wastewater treatment process, less importance is being given to this area resulting in the poor treatment and discharging these wastewater containing pollutants, thus harming the environment. In recent times, increased awareness on treating wastewater through biological method in particular through anaerobic digestion serves as a potential option to solve the energy crisis and pollution problems pertaining to the disposal of industrial wastewater treatment systems (Bardiya et al., 1996). The idea behind anaerobic digestion of wastewater treatment is to create the contact between wastewater and microorganisms, which feed on the organic materials present in the wastewater resulting in the production of methane and reduction of the organic content present in the wastewater. Bio-methanation is an anaerobic digestion technology that has been proven and very well documented, as the appropriate technology for treating the industrial wastewaters. Unlike fossil fuel combustion, biogas produced from waste is considered as CO 2 neutral and therefore does not emit additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Methane, one of the potential green house gases, twenty one times harmer than carbon dioxide (IPCC, 3 rd Assessment report) can be proficiently used as an energy source for production of heat and electricity. Bio-methanation systems are used for not only obtaining energy, but also for reducing the pollution to a great extent. 1981 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) Vol. 2 Issue 9, September - 2013 ISSN: 2278-0181 www.ijert.org IJERTV2IS90770