Preliminary evaluation of the effect of chicken feather with no major pre-treatment on biogas production from horse dung

Abstract

This study examined the effect of the anaerobic co-digestion of chicken feather (CF) and horse dung (HD) on biogas production and yield kinetics. It was carried out in eight (8) experimental designs using eight (8) identical digesters with replication. While Digesters A and B contained 100 % HD (6 kg) and 100 % CF (6 kg) respectively, C, D and E contained 75 % HD, 50 % HD and 25 % HD (4.5 kg, 3 kg and 1.5 kg) respectively. The last three Digesters F, G and H contained 75 % HD: 25 % CF, 50 % HD: 50 % CF and 25 % HD: 75 % CF respectively. Average biogas production for digesters with 100 % HD, 100 % CF, 75 % HD: 25 % CF, 75 % HD: 50 % HD: 50 % CF, 50 % HD and 25 % HD: 75 % CF are 0.36, 8.22876E-04, 0.20, 0.27, 0.14, 0.18, 0.097 and 0.09 L/gVS respectively. The paired t-test result showed a significant difference for 75 % HD and 50 % HD when co-digested with CF but no significant difference for 25 % HD at 95 % confidence level. The modified Gompertz model revealed that chicken feather had negative effects of 6.89 %, 14.84 % and 27.75 % on total biogas produced, maximum specific biogas yield (μm) and latency (λ) respectively. The study concluded that that CF without chemical and or enzymatic pre-treatment was not a good co-substrate of HD for enhanced biogas production.