Fabrication of Mini Bio-Gas Digester using Locally Available Material for Cooking Purposes

Abstract

Energy is becoming almost unaffordable for most people, especially in Africa, where there are insufficient investments and less emphasis is given to sustainable and renewable sources of energy. This research work entails the fabrication and performance evaluation of a mini-biogas digester using locally available materials (cow dung and garbage) for domestic cooking in Nigeria. The obtained biogas was analyzed with a portable gas analyzer (PG-300) and found to have met standard cooking gas specifications for chemical composition, sulfur content, hydrogen sulfide content, and calorific value. The digester, fabricated from a 25-liter square round plastic jerry can, produced 0.39 to 0.5 m³ of methane gas daily from cow dung and garbage mixtures, which is approximately 50–60% of the total biogas produced. This eco-friendly technology offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels for domestic cooking, reducing deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.