Production of biogas from cow dung, weeds and domestic wastes

Abstract

Biogas production was carried out using cow dung, weeds, orange peelings and corn cob. Four different set of experiments were set up to demonstrate the production of biogas by the anaerobic fermentation of weeds and domestic waste; to determine the ratios of cow dung to weeds, orange peelings, and corn cob which would be required for optimum gas production; to determine the burning characteristic of the gas produced and to determine the time taken for a digester to start biogas production when activated with a slurry from already functioning digester. Results obtained showed that production of biogas by anaerobic fermentation o0f cow dung and wastes began on day 7 with 48cm3 of gas with a total volume of 1758cm3 at the end of 22 days. The results of various percentage combination of cow dung and weeds, orange peelings and corn cob showed gas production on day 6 in 75% cow dung and 25% weeds with 6cm3 of gas followed by 50% cow dung and 50% weeds on day 7 while 25% cow dung and 75% orange peelings started on day 8 while 25% cow dung and 75% corn cob started on day 9. 50% cow dung and 50% weeds produced the highest volume of gas (779cm3) while 25% cow dung and 75% corn cob produced the lowest (474cm3). The gas produced by a restarted digester began on day 3 with 41cm3 of gas and a total volume of 3579cm3 at the end of 22 days.Keywords: Biogas, Cowdung, Digester and Fermentation