TITLE:
Comparative Study of Biogas Production from Jackfruit Waste, Banana Peels, and Pineapple Peels Co-Digested with Cow Dung
AUTHORS:
Tadeo Mibulo, Denis Nsubuga, Isa Kabenge, Nicholas Kiggundu, Kerstin D. Wydra
KEYWORDS:
Biogas, Co-Digestion, Jackfruit Waste, Banana, Pineapple Peels
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems,
Vol.13 No.1,
March
7,
2023
ABSTRACT: Only 42% of Uganda’s population has access to electricity.
The population continues to use firewood and charcoal as a source of energy,
which leads to depletion of forests thus to climate change. The purpose of this
study was to assess the potential of biogas production from jackfruit waste,
banana peels, and pineapple peels when co-digested with cow dung as an
alternative energy source. Substrates for each waste were co-digested with
varying proportions (0%, 25%, and 50%) of cow dung using laboratory-scale 250
mL anaerobic digestors. The total biogas generation for jackfruit waste, banana
peels, and pineapple peels after 30 days of anaerobic digestion was 82.3, 189,
and 262 mL, respectively. When jack fruit waste, pineapple peels and banana
peels were co-digested with 25% cow dung, the total amount of biogas produced
increased by a factor of two and three, respectively. However, 50% of cow dung
only significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved for jack fruit waste by two folds. Therefore, the results indicated that jackfruit waste, banana and
pineapple peels can be used for biogas production to augment energy supply.