9-13 July 2012
Africa/Johannesburg timezone
<a href="http://events.saip.org.za/internalPage.py?pageId=11&confId=14"><font color=#ff0000>SAIP2012 PROCEEDINGS AVAILABLE</font></a>

Optimization of biogas by co-digestion using a field-scale bath digester

12 Jul 2012, 16:40
20m
Oral Presentation Track F - Applied Physics Applied Physics Forum

Speaker

Mr Patrick Mukumba (university io Fort Hare Physics Department)

Abstract content <br> &nbsp; (Max 300 words)

Abstract. Biogas technology converts organic wastes into biogas, which consists of about 80% methane. The digester effluent after digestion can be used as manure. Co-digestion of organic wastes involves mixing of various substrates in varying proportions. The investigation was carried out using a field batch biogas digester. Fresh goat manure, horse manure and donkey manure were collected from University of Fort Hare Honey dale farm. The latter substrates were analyzed for total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), total alkalinity (TA), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and calorific value (CV) before they were co-digested in a bath biogas digester in different mixing ratios. The biogas composition for each sample was analysed using a Non-Dispersive Infrared gas sensor, which detects methane gas up to 100% volume. Preliminary results show that a mixing ratio with 34% goat manure; 33% horse manure; 33% donkey manure produced biogas with the highest methane yield. Therefore, biogas yield was influenced by variations in mixing ratios as well as waste types used.

Level for award<br>&nbsp;(Hons, MSc, <br> &nbsp; PhD)?

PhD

Apply to be<br> consider for a student <br> &nbsp; award (Yes / No)?

Yes

Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?

YES

Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution

Dr. G. Makaka GMakaka@ufh.ac.za University of Fort Hare

Primary author

Mr Patrick Mukumba (university io Fort Hare Physics Department)

Co-authors

Dr Golden Makaka (University of Fort Hare) Dr Sampson Mamphweli (University of Fort Hare)

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Peer reviewing

Paper