Effects of Anaerobic Co-digestion of Cow Dung using Biodegradable Municipal Wastes for Biogas Production

Abstract

Biogas is a renewable energy resource produced by anaerobic digestion (AD). Biogas production trough anaerobic digestion was found to be unstable when the cattle manure is used as mono substrate due to the low carbon to nitrogen ratio. The aim of this research is to extract biogas by anaerobic-digestion technique using cow dung (CD) and municipal solid waste (MSW) at different proportions. It was carried out by 15, 0.5 L digesters at 38 °C using oven atmesophilic condition. Samples were analysed for its total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), fixed solids, organic carbon, moisture content, and potential of hydrogen (pH) according to standard method for the examination of water and wastewater. Biogas yield was recorded by using volume displacement method. Maximum cumulative biogas production by the substrate mixes of 0% MSW+100% CD (2818.3 ml) and a maximum daily biogas production for 75% CD+25% MSW (620 ml) with minimum of 0 ml for all substrate mix at end of day 22. Cumulative biogas yield of 100% CD digestion was found to be better yielding. It is also observed that, co-digestion of MSW with cow dung does not increase the amount of biogas production over only with 100 % CD. However, cow dung added with MSW has enhanced the amount of biogas yield and reduction in percentage of VS and TS as compared to 100 % MSW.