GAS CHROMATOGRAPH PLOTS ON DIVERSE COW DUNG ANALYSIS (Published)
Biogas is a gaseous fuel obtained from biomass by the process of anaerobic digestion (fermentation) of garbage, human excreta, organic waste, agricultural waste, animal waste from butchery, vegetable and industrial waste. This research was conducted to produce bio-energy from variety of cow dung. The fresh cow dung which was free from anti-biotics weighing 2 Kg each was obtained from EPZ (export processing zone) Sebore cattle farm, Mayo-belwa from Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and Simmental and White Fulani cows, which were fed with equal amount of concentrates for some weeks. The cow dung was mixed with water in a ratio of 1:1 by volume to form slurry and the mixture loaded into a digester to ferment with HRT (Hydraulic Retention Time) of 9-14 days and mesophilic temperature of 25-35oC. Human excreta and urine were added into the digester to increase mechanization, micro-organism, microbial and pathogenic activities and also to reduce the retention period. The biogas obtained after 9-14 days was collected and analyzed in a Gas Chromatograph and Integrator. The results showed the percentages and Gas Chromatograph plots for the cow dung of the four (4) selected varieties of cows studied. The results indicated thus: Holstein Friesian cow has methane (84.916% CH4) and 196.199 cal/m3 of energy, Jersey cow (69.233% CH4) and 159.963 cal/m3 of energy, Simmental cow has (60.459% CH4) and 149.235 cal/m3 of energy and White Fulani cow has (85.331% CH4) with 197.157 cal/m3 of energy respectively. The results indicate that the White Fulani cow has the higher quantity of methane than the other breeds of cows
Keywords: Bio-energy, Cow Dung, Holstein; Jersey, Simmental, White Fulani