Evaluation of Biogas Production from the Co-Digestion of Banana Fruit Peels and Poultry Manure

Abstract

Substances have different degrees of degradability. Low degradability of substrates is one of the factors that hinder the production of biogas from organic substances. To overcome this low degradability of substrates, mixing is important for most of the substrates. With the aim of maximizing biogas yields from co-digestion of banana fruit peel and poultry manure, a series of experiments were carried out under mesophilic conditions at 38 ºC using batch digester operating for 25 days hydraulic retention time (HRT). Anaerobic degradability test with mix of 5 different proportions were carried out to obtain suitable mix ratio for maximum biogas production from co-digestion of BP and PM. The objective of this study was to determine the biogas yield from solo and co-digestion of BP and PM. Production of biogas through anaerobic digestion of organic waste materials provides an alternative environmentally, eco- friendly renewable energy. In all treatments; TS, VS, organic carbon and pH were measured before and after digestion. The daily biogas production was subsequently measured by water displacement method for 25 days. Gas production was noticed in all of the substrate types from the first day up to the 25^th day of digestion. Assessment of cumulative biogas production revealed that substrates in mix ratios showed high biogas yield.  The highest yield was recorded insubstrate mix ratio of 50% BP+ 50% PM, suggesting that this mix ratio of the two substrates is an optimal mix to yield better amount of biogas. Overall results indicated that production of biogas yield from substrates and reduction in VS and TS can be significantly enhanced when BP and PM are co-digested.

Keywords: Banana peel, Biogas, Co-digestion, Poultry manure, Total solids, Volatile solid

DOI: 10.7176/JETP/10-2-03

Publication date: April 30^th 2020