Anaerobic Digestion: Technology for Biogas as a Source of Renewable Energy from Biomass—A Review

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a conventional method for converting biomass into renewable energy, gaining renewed interest in recent years due to its potential for sustainable energy production. While the fundamental principles of AD are well-established, modern research primarily focuses on optimizing the process under various conditions to enhance efficiency and yield. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of AD, exploring the impact of pretreatment methods, inhibitors, and key parameters affecting its performance. Special emphasis is placed on substrates containing lignin or bacterial cells, which are identified as the most adaptable for pretreatment strategies aimed at improving AD efficiency. The analysis further evaluates existing methods for assessing improvements in AD across different systems, highlighting current challenges and the potential for developing enhanced evaluation techniques. The findings underscore the importance of exploring alternative renewable energy sources beyond fossil fuels, with AD serving as a promising solution. Understanding the interplay between pretreatment, process parameters, and inhibitor management is essential for advancing AD technology and achieving economically viable outcomes.