Influence of penicillin on the stabilization of anaerobic digestion of rain tree kernels for methane generation.

Rain Tree (Pithecolobium saman Bentham) kernels, rich in fermentable sugars were employed for methane
generation through anaerobic digestion using 20-• biodigestors under a semi-continuous feeding mode. A
loading rate of 45 g/I/d resulted in the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (1725 rag//) which led to souring of
the digestor. To avoid the excessive production of volatile fatty acids by the non-methanogenic microorganisms
and to stabilize the anaerobic digestion process, penicillin was added and a gas yield of 0.49 m3/kg VS
added with an average methane yield of 0.21 m3/kg VS added was obtained.