CO-DIGESTION OF KITCHEN WASTE WITH INTESTINAL COW DUNG FOR BIOGAS PRODUCTION

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion process is gaining attention in the agriculture industry because of its potential for renewable energy production and manure stabilization. These potential benefits are significant against the current backdrop of rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns. Anaerobic digestion is a naturally occurring process through which organic matter such as manure, feed spills, meat processing wastes and crop residues are stabilized by microorganisms strictly in the absence of air. In developing countries, the inadequate management of waste particularly in urban areas where the consumption pattern have changed and the generation rate increased substantially from one location to another and from time to time. This study explored the production of biogas from kitchen wastes mixed with intestinal cow dung in a semi continuous anaerobic digester. Materials used as feed were Paw Paw, tomato, banana peels and intestinal cow dung. Various parameters were determined using standard methods; water displacement method was used to determine the volume of gas produced. The combustibility of the gas generated was tested using Bunsen burner. Microbiological methods were employed for the microbiological analysis. The temperature and pH recorded in the digester range from 27-33oC and 0-6.81c respectively. It was observed that the waste slurry produced biogas without nutrient or chemical addition to the digester. The highest volume of gas (2.8ml) was produced on the 14th day where the temperature (29oC) and pH (6.79) were relatively high. The result of the statistical analysis showed there is significant difference (P<0.05) in the slurry temperature and pH as compared to the volume of gas produced. The Bacteria isolates identified from the digester include Proteus Spp, Bacillus Spp, Escherichia Coli, Klebsiella Spp and Staphyllococcus Spp. Based on this, the search for alternative source of Energy such as Biogas should be intensified so as to curb the incidence of ecological disasters like Environmental pollution, deforestation, desertification and erosion.