Delineating Comparative Studies on Biogas Production from Camel, Donkey and Horse Dungs
Publication Date: 07/06/2021
Author(s): Buhari Samaila, M.N Yahaya, Nasiru Abubakar.
Volume/Issue: Volume 1 , Issue 1 (2021)
Abstract:
The cost and the health effects of using other forms of energy, such as energy from fossil fuels and coal, make it necessary to find alternative sources of energy which are cheap and have no health effects on humans, animals and the environment. The energy derived from animal wastes, such as camel, donkey and horse dung, provide that alternative source of energy to humanity. To treat the problem of fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions, biogas is considered a potential source of clean renewable energy. The aim of this work is to compare the amount of biogas produced from cow, horse and camel dung. This work used three 1 litre capacity plastic gallons as prototype biodigesters. These biodigesters were operated and daily gas produced from the dung was observed for 37 days retention time. The digesters were fed with the same proportion of dung from each animal, and water. The operating temperatures of the digesters were maintained within the range of 34-390C, while pH values of the slurries ranged from 4.90 to 7.3. The biogas produced in 37 days retention time were found to be (4550 cm3)/150g for camels, (2210 cm3)/150g for donkeys and (4000 cm3 )/150g for horses. It was observed that the dungs were stagnant for one week, and the more the retention time, the more gas was produced. This investigation revealed that the gas production process was started on day 7, due to the fact that those animals were fed with fibrous materials and a longer time is required for digesting fibrous materials by microorganisms. The results obtained are compared in order of camel > horse > donkey. It was found that camels produce the highest volume of gas followed by horse and then donkey. The process of methane gas production, if extended to the commercial scale, would not only provide an alternative source of energy but would also be a means of environmental sanitation for the study area and Nigeria at large.
Keywords:
Biogas, Digester, Camel, Donkey, Horse dung.
