Comparative Study of Biogas Production from Sugarcane Bagasse and Cow Dung

Abstract

Renewable energy such as biogas has recently been receiving attention. This may be connected to numerous advantages, including energy security and sustainability. However, several challenges, including the amount of gas produced, the nature of the substrate, and the high cost of production, remain a problem. This research aimed at investigating biogas production from sugarcane bagasse, cow dung, and co-digestion of the two substrates. In this research, sugarcane bagasse, which is one of the most common waste cellulosic materials, was used as a substrate to generate gas and to compare the rate of production with the most common substrate used (cow dung). Samples of sugarcane bagasse and cow dung were obtained from Katsina metropolis. Samples were initially processed (dried, and ground to powder) before preparing slurry in a specialized bioreactor that was constructed using a 900g tin. Three different sets of biogas were made, including a reactor containing co-digestion of bagasse with cow dung, cow dung alone, and sugarcane bagasse alone. The gas generated was allowed only one passage via a tube and collected by downward delivery. The result shows that the digester containing co-digestion of sugarcane bagasse and cow dung has the highest cumulative biogas generation of 74.00 cm³, followed by the digester containing cow dung only, which produces a total volume of 52.00 cm³, while the digester containing sugarcane bagasse only has a cumulative biogas generation of 39.00 cm³, with a pH range of 4.6 – 6.6. It was found that agricultural wastes such as groundnut shell, rice straw, maize cobs, and sugarcane bagasse, which naturally have been dumped carelessly as domestic waste, especially when co-digested, can provide an alternative substrate for efficient biogas production.