Abstract
This paper is aimed at exploring the potential of implementing biomass as one of the sources of energy in Jordan using a simulated underground burial system. A controlled solar energy heated system was employed to maintain the anaerobic bioreactor at 40°C (mesophilic range). Sludge and wastewater, from wastewater treatment plant, was used as a seeding material to activate bacteria. Production of biogas was observed after 3 days of incubation. On average, a total of 94 liters/sample were obtained at 25°C and atmospheric pressure. This amount of gas is equivalent to 258 liters/kg (Standard Temperature and Pressure, STP) of sheep manure. The biogas average composition was 65% methane and 35% CO2, and the retention time was 35 days. Control runs at room temperature did not produce appreciable amount of biogas within the 35 days of incubation. The potential of biomass was studied based on estimated sheep manure production for the period of 2010-2016 in Jordan. The results obtained from the designed process were used to estimate the bio-gas production indicating a promising process to produce biogas by a burial bio-waste system. Upon scale-up of this process, biomass from different sources can be processed within short residence time, which will result in appreciable reduction of land fill areas and significant production of biogas that will contribute to the energy power mix in a non-oil producing country, such as Jordan.
Highlights
The utilization of new energy sources that have economic potential as well as being environmentally friendly have been discussed in several publications [1] [2] [3]
Upon scale-up of this process, biomass from different sources can be processed within short residence time, which will result in appreciable reduction of land fill areas and significant production of biogas that will contribute to the energy power mix in a non-oil producing country, such as Jordan
The results indicate that utilization of solar energy significantly affects the biogas production of manure soil burial process
Summary
The utilization of new energy sources that have economic potential as well as being environmentally friendly have been discussed in several publications [1] [2] [3]. Classical solar and wind energies, form most of the renewable resources available. They are free, non-polluted, and abundant in many parts of the world. The main problems that are associated with utilization of solar and wind energies are the requirement for huge land area, variation of wind speed and solar radiation, and the high initial cost. This makes the arid sunny land of the Arab world a suitable place to apply this technology [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]. Problems associated with the seasonal variations in the renewable energy sources can be overcome by applying hybrid systems
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