Question

Cow dung and water is mixed and this slurry is fed into the biogas plant for digestion by microbes. The person performing the process shares that there is no need to provide inoculum for it, why? What is the role of microbes at the source? Under which condition will they be most active and effective? [3]

Answer 1

A mixture of biowastes and dung slurry is added to the tank in the biogas plant. Methanogens are bacteria present in the dung slurry which help in the breakdown of cellulosic material in the biowastes. This results in the release of large amounts of methane (biogas) along with $H_2\mathrm{and}{\mathrm{CO}}_2$. Hence inoculum is not required for biogas production. [2]

These bacteria are most active and effective in an anaerobic environment. [1]