Abstract:
Biogas can be produced from any biodegradable feedstock that is suitable for
anaerobic digestion. In present day biogas production from barley straw and cow
dung was investigated using the number of small reactors. Barley straw was co digested with Cow dung with the aim of biogas production. Five treatment mixtures of
Barley straw and Cow dung in ratio of 100% Barley straw(BS), 70% Barley straw(BS)
and 30% Cow dung(CD) , 50% Barley straw(BS) and 50% Cow dung(CD) , 30%
Barley straw and 70% Cow dung(CD) and 100% Cow dung(CD) were digested in
batch-type anaerobic digesters for about 33 days under mesophilic condition (38oC).
The physicochemical parameters for anaerobic digestion (Total solids, volatile solids,
pH, organic carbons and C: N ratios) were determined. Produced biogas was
measured for about 33 days of retention time. The results showed co-digestion had
significant (p < 0.05) effect on the total solids, volatile solids, organic carbons and pH
before and after anaerobic digestion within treatments. Cumulative biogas produced
from 70% Barley straw (BS) and 30% Cow dung (CD) was the highest (780ml) while
the lowest cumulative biogas was measured in Combination of 50% Barley straw (BS)
and 50% Cow dung (CD) (481ml) and 100% Barley straw (BS) (440ml). Assessment of
cumulative biogas production revealed that substrate in a mix ratio of 70% Barley
straw (BS) and 30% Cow dung (CD) showed the highest production, suggesting this
mix ratio of the two substrates is the best mix to yield better amount of biogas.
Therefore, it can be inferred from the results anaerobic co-digestion of 70% Barley
straw (BS) and 30% Cow dung (CD) was a proportion appeared to be the best
combination for better biogas production from barley straw and cow dung.
