Track: Waste Management

Abstract

Disposal of municipal waste, a by-product from the sewage treatment process, is resulting in landfilling problems hence need for sustainable methods in managing this municipal waste such as biogas generation via bio catalytic routes. This study focused on anaerobic treatment of municipal waste, co-harnessing biogas as a value added products utilizing Hycura, an engineered enzyme bio-catalyst. Anaerobic digestion of municipal waste was investigated for potential biogas generation at mesophilic temperature of 35 °C and thermophilic temperature of 55 °C. An engineered bio catalyst, Hycura was loaded at 0.5g/L. The biogas quantity produced was measured using the water displacement method. Samples of the biogas were analyzed for bio-methane, carbon dioxide and traces gases composition using a gas analyzer. Optimum biogas production was obtained under mesophilic conditions and Hycura loading of 0.50 g/L with a 78% bio-methane composition. Biogas production from municipal waste does not only provide a waste management initiative but also a renewable energy source.