Comparative Evaluation of Qualitative and Quantitative Biogas Production Potential of Oil Palm Fronds and Co-digestion with Cow Dung

Abstract

Investigation to determine the qualitative and quantitative biogas production potential of oil palm fronds (PF-alone) and its blend with cow dung (PF:CD) in a pre-determined ratio 1:1 was evaluated. Two 50 L capacity plastic jerry-can re-designed and retrofitted as a biodegesters were used for the digestion. The wastes were mixed in the ratio of 2:1 (water to waste) and subjected to anaerobic digestion at mesophilic temperature range of 27⁰C to 39⁰C. Results obtained after a retention period of 27 days indicated an optimization in gas production by co-digesting oil palm fronds with cow dung (PF:CD) with cumulative biogas yields of 187.4L as against 116L for PF-alone. Flammability of produced biogas revealed a time lag of 5 days for PF:CD with sustained flammable gas production throughout the retention period while time lag for PF-alone was 2 days with un-sustained flammability. Peak biogas production was recorded for both digesters at pH of 6.6-to-6.9. Co-digestion of abundantly available animals and plants residues is hereby recommended as an environmentally sound, economically viable and socially acceptable solution to the current energy and waste management quagmire.

Keywords: biogas, energy, anaerobic digestion, oil palm fronds, flammability