Abstract:
Production of biogas through anaerobic digestion of organic waste materials provides an
alternative environmentally eco-friendly renewable energy. In this study, biogas production
from co-digestion of cow manure (CM) and Datura stramonium leaves (DSL) in five mix ratios
(100%CM, 60%CM:40%DSL, 50%CM:50%DSL, 40%CM:60%DSL and 100%DSL) were
evaluated under mesophilic condition at 38ºC using a batch mode digester over 30 days
fermentation. In all the treatments, physico-chemical parameters such as pH, total solid,
volatile solid, organic carbon, nitrogen and carbon to nitrogen ratio were measured before
and after anaerobic digestion. The results indicated that pH and total nitrogen significantly
increased after AD, whereas VS and organic carbon decreased significantly after AD. Biogas
yield was found to be higher when the two substrates were co-digested than when digested
alone. Of all mix ratios, 40%CM co-digested with 60%DSL resulted in the highest biogas.
Comparison between 10 and 8% TS contents revealed that 10% TS substrates yielded in more
biogas than 8%. Over all the results of this study indicate that the increase in biogas yield and
reduction in volatile solids and total solids can be significantly enhanced when cow manure is
co-digested with Datura stramonium leaves (DSL) in 40%:60% mix ratio.
