International Journal of Power and Energy Research

Download PDF (520.4 KB) PP. 17 - 26 Pub. Date: July 1, 2020

DOI: 10.22606/ijper.2020.42001

• Barasa H. Masinde^*
  Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 190 – 50100, Kakamega, KENYA
• Daudi M. Nyaanga
  Agricultural Engineering Department, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 – 20115, Egerton, KENYA
• Musa R. Njue
  Agricultural Engineering Department, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 – 20115, Egerton, KENYA
• Joseph W. Matofari
  Dairy, Food Science and Technology, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 – 20115, Egerton, KENYA

Optimization was done by investigating the interaction effects of total solids, mesophilic temperature, and substrate retention time on biogas production in a batch biodigester. The volume of the biodigester was 0.15m3. Central composite design of Response Surface Methodology was used to design the experiment. Total solid levels were varied from 6.31% to 9.68%, temperature was from 26.59°C to 43.41°C, and substrate retention time was from 9.95 to 20.04 days. Analysis of results was done using Design Expert software statistical package (version 10.0.0.3). It gave a coefficient of determination of 0.9665 which indicated a high correlation between the variables. All the variables had a significant effect. The highest biogas production rate of 75.41litres/day (or 0.50 m3 of biogas per m3 of digester volume per day, m3/m3d) was achieved at a level of 8% total solids, a temperature of 43.41°C, and a substrate retention time of 15 days.

optimization, biogas production, total solids, mesophilic temperature, substrate retention time.

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