Opuntia spp. in Biogas production

Abstract

Safe environment and clean energy are among the most important green chemistry fundamentals. The world economy depends mainly on fossil fuel as a source of energy, and due to limited natural resources and uncontrolled pollution, the world is looking for alternatives that can meet the basic requirements of a clean and safe life. Using alternative sources such as biogas as an energy source can provide a solution to world energy problems. Biogas is produced through anaerobic digestion of organic matter, which is converted into combustible gas rich in methane. Biogas generation is one of the cheapest methods of producing energy on the spot from readily available resources. Nonedible agriculture crops and/or waste are among the essential biomass sources to produce biogas. Biomaterials produced from Opuntia species showed great potential as a source of biomass in the last years. Plants that belong to this genus can tolerate drought and poor soil fertility and require low maintenance. Opuntia biomass has been considered an excellent sub- strate alone or in combination with other organic waste materials. This chapter discusses the most recent research on Opuntia’s different species in biofuel production and their potential as an alternative energy source.