Experimental Investigation of Biogas Production from Cow Dung in an Anaerobic Batch Digester at Mesophilic Conditions

Abstract

This paper presents the experimental investigation of biogas production from cow dung as an alternative for fossil fuels for energy consumption. This was carried out using an 18 Liters capacity plastic keg prototype biogas plant, constructed to investigate the anaerobic digestion for generation of biogas. Batch experiment was operated and daily gas yield from the plant was monitored for duration of 30 days. The digester was charged with these wastes in the ratio of 1:1, of waste to water, respectively. The mesophilic temperature ranges attained within the testing period were 20 – 35 °C. The Biogas production from cow dung fluctuates from the first day to the thirtieth day between 0 and 340 ml. The pH of cow dung gradually reduced due to acid former and methanogenes within the 30 days retention period.