Evaluation of Various Biomass Feedstocks for Biogas Generation at Psychrophilic and Mesophilic Temperatures at Higher Altitudes of Nepal

Ashma Subedi and Bivek Baral
Additional contact information
Ashma Subedi: Department of Environment Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Bivek Baral: Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, Nepal

Journal of Development Innovations, 2021, vol. 5, issue 1, 46-62

Abstract: This study aimed at testing the feasibility of different animal manures as a substrate for biogas production at psychrophilic and mesophilic temperatures. Anaerobic digestion of animal manure at psychrophilic and mesophilic temperatures has not yet been explored in the higher altitudes in Nepal (> 3,000 meters above sea level), probably due to less effective biogas yield as cold temperature retards the growth rate of the microbes responsible for anaerobic digestion. A lab-scale anaerobic digester was constructed to run on a continuous mode process. Methane production from five different substrates, i.e., cow dung, horse dung, sheep dung, human feces, and co-digestion (combination of those substrates) was conducted at four different temperatures, i.e., 10°C, 17°C, 30°C, and 40°C, for three months. The study assessed the type of feed used in anaerobic digesters for biogas production at different temperature ranges. The results obtained reflected that the highest biogas yield potential lied in sheep dung followed by cow dung and then a combination of substrates in all the four temperatures. This study provided scientific evidence for establishing a waste based technology at higher altitudes for the production of biogas to address challenges in the energy sector and promote sustainable development.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; co-digestion; mesophilic; methane; psychrophilic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q43 Q53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.karmaquest.org/journal/index.php/ILGDI/article/view/71/61

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:kqi:journl:2021-5-1-4

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Development Innovations is currently edited by Bamadev Paudel

More articles in Journal of Development Innovations from KarmaQuest International
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Bamadev Paudel ().