TITLE:
Agricultural Solids Waste in South of Jordan: Facts and Figures
AUTHORS:
Fares A. Al Momani, Moayyed Shawaqfah
KEYWORDS:
Agricultural; Anaerobic Digestion; Solid Waste; Substrate
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.4 No.4,
April
25,
2013
ABSTRACT: Agricultural solid wastes in the southern part of Jordan were estimated and classified. Data collection method was used to determine the types and quantities of different agricultural solid wastes. Human excreta and cattle manure were found to be serious environmental problems in the region. Chemical analysis of different solid wastes showed variable organic and nitrogen content which affect the selection of treatment process. Anaerobic digestion (AD) was tested and found to be a suitable unit operation to treat a wide variety of agricultural solid wastes. Biogas production rate from AD ranged from 0.3 m3/kg COD to0.61 m3/kg COD which is considered 80% to 90% of yield. The optimum C/N ratio and TVS for AD was found to be 22 ± 2 and 70% ± 5%, respectively. The amount of energy that can be produced from energy crops and animal manures was estimated to be 12.8 Mtoe and 0.34 Mtoe, respectively. Methane biogas production rate was estimated to be37 m3/ton for substrate consist of mixture of different agricultural solid waste of 50% wastewater, 40% Cattle manure, 5% straw and 5% sawdust.