A Preliminary Investigation into the Effect of Ambient Temperature on Biogas Generation using Cow-Dung from Afaka-Kaduna for Household Cooking
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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) |  |
| © 2013 by IJETT Journal | ||
| Volume-6 Number-8 |
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| Year of Publication : 2013 | ||
| Authors : WC Solomon , SU Muhammad , MY Egoh |
Citation
WC Solomon , SU Muhammad , MY Egoh. "A Preliminary Investigation into the Effect of Ambient Temperature on Biogas Generation using Cow-Dung from Afaka-Kaduna for Household Cooking". International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT). V6(8):405-409 Dec 2013. ISSN:2231-5381. www.ijettjournal.org. published by seventh sense research group
Abstract
This paper presents an exploratory investigation of the feasibility of generating biogas from the surplus cow-dung available in Afaka, Kaduna for possible use as an alternative renewable environmentally friendly cooking fuel in pursuant of the Kyoto Protocol which Nigeria is a signatory. The investigation was carried out in a continuous mode operated VACVINA type bio digester charged with cattle slurry and specifically the effect of ambient temperature on the slurry temperature and the pH was monitored alongside biogas yield over a retention time of 21days.Within this period, ambient temperature varied between 260C and 300C while the variation in slurry temperature was between 290C and 320C and the pH value fluctuated between 6.1 and 7-0. The results showed that ambient temperature rise tends to increase the slurry temperature and pH value. However, towards the end of the retention days, there was slight drop in pH value. The gas generated was low but deflected the pressure gauge at 8mmHg and 2mmHg in the first and second week of the experiment and none in the third week. Despite the low gas yield, this result demonstrates that the cow-dung in Afaka can be a viable alternative cooking fuel to fossil fuels used presently.
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Keywords
Cow dung, ambient temperature, slurry temperature, pH value, biogas