Biogas Generation using Cattle Rumen Contents

Abstract

and carbon monoxide and trace of hydrogen sulphide. The mixture of the gases is combustible if the methane content is more than 50 %. The methanogens are slower growing and more environmentally sensitive to pH, air, and temperatures than the acidogenic bacteria. Usually, the methanogens require a narrow pH range (above 6), temperatures at or above21°C, and adequate time (usually more than 15 days), to most effectively convert organic acids into biogas. The resultant energy in the anaerobic digestion (biogas) can be used directly for cooking by burning it in the presence of oxygen. It can also be converted into electricity by using it to convert water into steam, which turns a turbine connected to a generator (Ioana and Cioabla, 2010).However, organic matter can also decompose without any oxygen, by the process of anaerobic Fermentation. This happens due to the bacteria present in the matter which acts during the absence of oxygen. Landfills see a lot of such ABSTRACTThis project work is focused on generation of biogas using cattle rumen contents as substrate, isolation microorganisms associated with the Generation of Biogas using the cattle rumen contents, evaluation the amount of biogas produced by the cattle rumen contents and to determine the variation in pH during biogas generation. Biogas digesters with capacity of 500g tins was designed and used. The substrate (cattle rumen contents) was in the ratio 2:1 with the water. The digesters were stirred thrice daily to avoid scum formation in the digesters and to allow for easy escape of the gas produced. The retention time used for this experiment was 56days during which the daily internal temperature reading was taken in order to determine temperature variation and also to determine the effect of sunlight on the production rate. Also