Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
com
Original Article
Development of Biogas Processing from Cow dung, Poultry waste, and Water
Hyacinth
Md. Forhad Ibne Al Imam1*, M. Z. H. Khan2, M. A. R. Sarkar3, S. M. Ali1
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
P. O. Kazla, Rajshahi-6204, Bangladesh
2
Department of Chemical Engineering, Jessore Science and Technology University, Jessore 7408, Bangladesh
3
Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jessore Science and Technology University, Jessore 7408,
Bangladesh
*
Corresponding author: Md. Forhad Ibne Al Imam, E-mail: sujon_me@yahoo.com
Received 28 February 2013; accepted 12 March 2013
Abstract
Bangladesh is a tropical country and its temperature condition is very suitable for the fermentation of organic materials
throughout the year. Therefore, there is a great prospect of biogas to be used as an alternative source of energy in
Bangladesh. This study investigated biogas production from different fermentable materials by a small size model biogas
plant. A model of batch type fixed dome biogas plant is designed and constructed for producing about 0.5 -1.0 m3 of bio
gas. The fermentable materials were selected as cow dung, poultry waste and water hyacinth. Biogas from cow dung,
poultry waste and water hyacinth was analyzed and compared. It was observed that biogas production from cow dung,
poultry waste and water hyacinth is 0.034 m3/kg, 0.058 m3/kg and 0.014 m3/kg respectively. Poultry waste produced
maximum gas 0.026m3 at the 8th day whereas cow dung and water hyacinth produced maximum gas 0.0263 m3 and
0.012m3 respectively at the 26th day. Percentage of methane content (the main constituent) in biogas produced from
different fermentable materials is almost the same.
2013 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Biogas, alternative energy, fermentable materials, fixed dome biogas plant.
1. INTRODUCTION source of energy in Bangladesh. Anaerobic digestion has
Worldwide energy crisis directed the attention to the been considered as waste-to-energy technology, and is
alternative sources of energy instead of underground fossil widely used in the treatment of different organic wastes, for
fuel. Achieving solutions to possible shortage in fossil fuels example: organic fraction of municipal solid waste, sewage
and environmental problems that the world is facing today sludge, food waste, animal manure, etc [4].
requires long-term potential actions for sustainable Anaerobic treatment comprises of decomposition of
development. In this regard, renewable energy resources organic material in the absence of free oxygen and
appear to be one of the most efficient and effective production of methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia and
solutions [1]. Biogas has globally remained a renewable traces of other gases and organic acids of low molecular
energy source derived from plants that use solar energy weight [5]. Raw materials for biogas fermentation such as
during the process of photosynthesis. Being a source of cow dung, poultry waste, water hyacinth, straw, weeds,
renewable natural gas, it has been adopted as one of the leaf, human and animal excrement, domestic rubbish and
best alternatives for fossil fuels after 1970s world energy industrial solid and liquid wastes are easily available in
crisis. Biogas is a colorless, flammable gas produced via Bangladesh. Biogas production systems have several
anaerobic digestion of animal, plant, human, industrial and benefits, such as (a) eliminating greenhouse gas, (b)
municipal wastes amongst others, to give mainly methane reduction of odor, (c) betterment of fertilizer, (d)
(50-70%), carbon dioxide (2040%) and traces of other production of heat and power. Usually efficiency of biogas
gases such as nitrogen, hydrogen, ammonia, hydrogen plant varies with the type of digester, the operating
sulphide, water vapour etc. [2]. It is smokeless, hygienic conditions, and the type of material loaded into the
and more convenient to use than other solid fuels [3]. digester. Operating temperature is an important factor
Average temperature of Bangladesh ranges from 20 oC to influencing digester efficiency. A digester can operate in
30o C. This is an ideal temperature for the fermentation of three temperature ranges: (a) the low temperature,
organic materials. So biogas is a prospective alternative psychrophilic bacteria range, which is less than 35C; (b)