Track: Energy
Abstract
In this study, the potential to generate electricity from sewage sludge biogas harnessed from municipal sewage plants was investigated. Two sewage plants Crow borough and Marlborough were investigated as the potential raw material suppliers for the biogas generation. Sewage sludge samples were collected sand analyses for the total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) among other parameters. Biogas generation was quantified in 250 mL flasks conducted under anaerobic conditions at mesophilic temperatures of 37 °C and thermophilic temperatures of 55 °C and agitation rates of 200 rpm. Optimum biogas production was achieved at 37 °C and 200 rpm with a methane composition of 72% before upgrading. The sewage sludge digestion to biogas was confirmed by the decrease in both TS and VS by 25.4% and 14.5% respectively. The average biogas generation rate was 0.015 m3/L with a Wobbe index of 24.78 indicating the high calorific value of the biogas and its potential to be generated to electricity.