Effects of Biochar on Methane Production and the Microbial Community in the Anaerobic Digestion of Chicken Manure

The production of organic waste necessitates proper management to mitigate and minimise potential environmental impacts. Anaerobic digestion has been recognised as a sustainable alternative to organic waste management for volume reduction, while achieving substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings. The methane produced during this process also serves as a valuable source for generating electricity. Recognising the necessity for Australia to move towards a carbon-neutral future, employing anaerobic digestion technology for treating its abundant organic waste, which amounted to 30 million tonnes in 2017, becomes ever more crucial. The overarching aim of this thesis was to develop and validate a more efficient way to anaerobically digest a major organic waste, chicken manure, with a focus on the intricacies of microbiology to better understand and optimise the underlying processes.