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Evaluation of biogas yield and kinetics from the anaerobic co-digestion of cow dung and horse dung: a strategy for sustainable management of livestock manure

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Abstract

In this study, investigation was done to determine the optimum combination of cow dung (CD) and horse dung (HD) for enhanced biogas production and plant stability. Anaerobic co-digestion of CD and HD at varying percentage combination was carried out in five (5) identical 25 L cylindrical digesters (A–E) for a retention period of 37 days, at an average ambient temperature of 33 °C. Using the Microsoft excel solver function, 2010 version, the modified Gompertz model was applied to predict the relevant kinetic variables of the digestion process. Result obtained shows that digester D with 25% CD and 75% HD produced the highest daily biogas, followed by C (50% CD and 50% HD), B (75% CD–25% HD), A (100% CD) and E (100% HD). Digester D also had maximum biogas production potential (A) of 13.8 L/gVS, maximum biogas production rate (µ) of 0.69 L/gVS/day and shortest lag phase (λ) of 5.20 days. Digester E with 100% HD, though had a short lag phase of 5.72 days, had the least total biogas yield of 5.1 L/gVS. The closeness of the coefficients of determination (R2) to 1 reflects a good fit, between experimental and simulated data. The study found that increase in the amount of cow dung beyond 25% led to decrease in biogas yield. It has also shown that biogas production from CD and HD is feasible and can serve as way of removing CD and HD from the environment while serving as a source of bioenergy. Further study on best ways of pre-treating the substrates for greater biogas yield is recommended.

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(Adapted from Achinas et al. 2018)

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the technical staff of the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the Academic Research and Entrepreneurship Development (A-RED) Initiative, Asaba, Nigeria for their immense contributions in improving the manuscript.

Funding

The study was not funded by third party.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria

    Meshach Ileanwa Alfa

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Delta State University, Oleh Campus, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria

    Hilary Ijeoma Owamah

  3. Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Bells University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

    Anthony Ogochukwu Onokwai

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, SCAD College of Engineering and Technology, Tirunelveli, India

    Sudalaimuthu Gopikumar

  5. Department of Civil Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

    Solomon Olakunle Oyebisi

  6. Department of Environmental Sciences, J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA, Faridabad, Haryana, 121006, India

    Smita Subodh Kumar & Somvir Bajar

  7. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State, P.M.B 1221, Nigeria

    Olusegun David Samuel

  8. Department of Chemistry, Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria

    Samuel Chukwujindu Ilabor

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  1. Meshach Ileanwa Alfa
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Contributions

Meshach Ileanwa Alfa initiated the study, generated the data and put the results in perspectives. Meshach Ileanwa Alfa, Hilary Ijeoma Owamah and Anthony Ogochukwu Onokwai prepared and edited the manuscript. Hilary Ijeoma Owamah and Anthony Ogochukwu Onokwai handled the submission and review processes. Sudalaimuthu Gopikumar, Solomon Olakunle Oyebisi, Smita Subodh Kumar,|Somvir Bajar, Olusegun David Samuel and Samuel Chukwujindu Ilabor assisted hugely in revising the manuscript after the first review especially in the area of graphical abstract preparation in conjunction with Meshach Ileanwa Alfa. Sudalaimuthu Gopikumar, Solomon Olakunle Oyebisi, Smita Subodh Kumar, Somvir Bajar, Olusegun David Samuel and Samuel Chukwujindu Ilabor also undertook the replotting of the graphs and enriching of the result and discussion section in line with reviewers’ comments. Anthony Ogochukwu Onokwai prepared the tabular comparison of result obtained in the study with those of previous studies. Hilary Ijeoma Owamah handled the correspondences and general supervision.

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Correspondence to Hilary Ijeoma Owamah.

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Alfa, M.I., Owamah, H.I., Onokwai, A.O. et al. Evaluation of biogas yield and kinetics from the anaerobic co-digestion of cow dung and horse dung: a strategy for sustainable management of livestock manure. Energ. Ecol. Environ. 6, 425–434 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40974-020-00203-0

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