Methane Production by Bio-digestion
The problems with fossil fuels, their elevated cost and their effects on global warming promote the development of other energetic alternatives like solar energy, wind energy, wave energy and bio energy among others. Biogas production is not new, but it has not yet arrive an optimal level. In this project we designed a small 15 liters tank with a ball valve, a pressure manometer, one thermometer and a pH sensor. The organic matter samples used were: 1. Cow manure with water hyacinth “Eichornia cracipiss” 2. Pig manure with water hyacinth and 3. Cow manure alone. The fermentation process was carried on during 30 to 40 days at 36 °C, pH 7.0 – 7.4 and 120 RPM. These parameters were optimized experimentally. The best production of methane gas was with sample 1 (3.8 L) and the lowest production was with sample 3 (1.4 L). Finally a combustion test and chromatography analysis was carried out on the final product