| Abstrakt: |
The fast growing global energy demand has necessitated the need for alternative energy supply. Biogas production reduces greenhouse gas emission and dependence on fossil fuel. The study investigated the biogas yield potentials of solid waste generated in a university community. Waste collected from 11 students' canteen and the cattle ranch within the university were used as feedstock in a fixed dome and floating drum digester respectively. Six 40 litres experimental digesters were designed and constructed with inlet and overflow for adding feedstock and removing the digested residue respectively. Assessment of the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of the feedstock and digested effluent were carried out. The biogas produced was connected to a filtration chamber of iron fillings and lime water. The gas produced daily was measured using tube connected to a calibrated 10 litres bucket containing water. The average C, N, P and K before and after digestion of the kitchen waste were 46.78 mg/l, 3.90 mg/l, 0.52 mg/l, 0.90 mg/l and 44.45 mg/l, 3.28 mg/l, 0.47 mg/l, 0.69 mg/l respectively. Average of 17 and 18.9 litres of gas was obtained in the fixed drum and floating drum respectively; after filtration it consisted of (63%, 65%) methane and (37%, 35%) of other gasses in the floating drum and fixed dome respectively. The study concluded that cow dung and kitchen waste in a tertiary institution are effective in generating biogas for sustainable environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
