Biogas Production Potential of Cocoa Pod Co-Digested with Poultry Manure at Mesophilic Temperature

Biogas, the gas produced through the breaking down of organic matter by bacterial in an oxygen free environment is beginning to gain ground these days. This is because of its ability to proffer solution to the age long problem associated with the use of conventional energy sources in form of air pollution which always lead to complex health challenges. Besides, fossil fuel prices keep fluctuating and fast depleting indicating that it is not sustainable. To this end, biogas was produced from the co-digestion of cocoa pod with poultry waste at ratio 1:1 using their organic dry matter contents. The experiment was conducted using a continuously stirred tank reactor operated at mesophilic temperature (37°C) commencing with Organic Loading Rate (OLR) of 0.5 goTS/I.d and increasing it by 0.5goTS/I.d weekly until an OLR of 2.0goTS/I.d was reached. At this point, the reactor was adjudged failing since biogas production began to decrease with increase in OLR from 1.5 goTS/I.d. At OLR of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 goTS/I.d, biogas yields were 0.0289, 0.762, 1.579 and 1.057 m³/kgoDM respectively. The corresponding methane (CH4) concentrations at OLR0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 goTS/I.d were 58.9, 68.9, 78.0 and 62.5% respectively. The result obtained as established co-digestion of cocoa pod with poultry was as an alternative root out of increasing energy demand of the African populace.