Production of Biogas from Fruit and Vegetable Wastes Mixed with Different Wastes

Leta Deressa,Daniel Manaye,Solomon Libsu,R B Chavan,Anbessa Dabassa

doi:10.13189/eer.2015.030303

Leta Deressa, Daniel Manaye + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.13189/eer.2015.030303

Copy DOI

Abstract

The present work explores the production of biogas from fruit and vegetable wastes mixed with cow manure in an anaerobic digester. The total solid, volatile solids, moisture content and ash content of the wastes were examined. The materials used as feed were avocado, papaya, mango, tomato, banana peel, and cow manure. Varying volumes of digesters were employed for biogas generation. The combustibility of the gas so generated was tested. The anaerobic digestion of fruit and vegetable wastes mixed with different waste took 55 days to produce biogas (for complete digestion). Anaerobic digestion is very sensitive to change in pH and it is important to maintain pH of 6.7-7.4 for healthy system. The temperature of the digester and the environment also affects the anaerobic digestion process. Upon adjustment of the factors affecting anaerobic digestion, it is felt that co-digestion between FVW and CM produces biogas without need of nutrient or chemical addition to the system. The search for alternative source of energy such as biogas should be intensified so that ecological disasters like environmental pollution, deforestation, desertification and erosion can be arrested.

Highlights

In today’s fast-growing world, the rate of energy consumption is rising at unexpected rates with each passing day
Slurry of approximately 5 Kg of the mixed waste and 50% of leftover food stuffs in another digester, in about 1:5 of tap water was fed into the digester
From measured value it is evident that leftover food waste of students cafeteria mixed with cow manure will give more biogas than Fruit and vegetable wastes mixed with cow manure

Summary

Introduction

In today’s fast-growing world, the rate of energy consumption is rising at unexpected rates with each passing day. To meet its growing energy requirements, the country has been investing hugely in developing its hydroelectric power generating capacity from water source like Gelgel Gibe dam, Abay River dam, Fincha dam and the like. Many municipal waste management programs do attempt to harness organic waste energy through combustion in waste-to-energy plants and methane collection from microorganism activity in landfills. While such systems make use of the energy available in food waste, they do not directly benefit the individuals who produce the waste, and may involve additional costs to those individuals related to collection [2]

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion