Analysis of Biogas Production from Digestion of Cattle Dung and Co-Digestion with Typha Latifolia in Funtua, Katsina State – Nigeria

Abstract

The high costs, health implications of energy derived from fossil fuel and its negative impact on environment has called for an alternative source of energy, among which biogas has been identified as eco-friendly. This study analyzed biogas production from digestion of cattle dung and co-digestion with Typha latifolia in Funtua, Katsina State Nigeria. The experiment was conducted batch wise in mixing ratio 1:1 of cattle dung: T. latifolia at mesophilic temperature under 38 days retention time. The quantity of cattle dung fed into digester was determined with a weighing balance. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the rate of biogas production while the difference in the biogas produced by the substrates was analysed using inferential statistics. Total of 9,923 (Fresh T. latifolia - FTCD), 35 (Powdered T. latifolia - PTCD) and 8,418 seconds (Fresh cattle dung - FCD) worth of biogas was produced. There was no statistically significant difference (P < 0.084) in the biogas production between the substrates. The highest daily peak was 1008 (18.8 minutes) and 937 second (15.6 minutes) from FTCD and FCD respectively. On average 1kg of cattle dung co digested with T. latifolia produced biogas worth 1240 seconds (21minutes) while mono digestion of cattle dung produced 1052 seconds (16minutes). Co-digestion with fresh T. latifolia improves biogas production by 15%. T. latifolia does not significantly has potential in biogas production. It is recommended that an investigation on effect of additives in biogas production from cattle dung and co-digestion with powdered Typha latifolia be conducted.