DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A 20 L BATCH BIODIGESTER FOR BIOGAS PRODUCTION FROM COW AND PIG DUNG UNDER MESOPHILIC CONDITIONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1007-5259Keywords:
Biogas, Animal Dung, Energy, Biodigester, MicroorganismsAbstract
Biogas technology has emerged as a pivotal solution for waste management, energy generation, and environmental conservation across the globe. This study focused on the development, and construction of a small-scale (20 L) biodigester system for biogas production using cow and pig dung at ratio 1:1 substrate-to-water and operating under mesophilic conditions (25–35 °C). The pH, COD, BOD and TS of cow dung and pig dung were 7.49 and 7.54; 3500 and 2000mg/L; 70 and 160mg/L; 27.7 and 46.2% respectively. The proximate analysis showed moisture content of 8.64% cow dung and 8.52% pig dung, crude fat 1.32 % cow dung and 3.58% pig dung, ash content of 18.62% pig dung and 22.52% cow dung. Nitrogen extract was 29.73% cow dung and 30.72% pig dung. The hydraulic retention time was 30 days and the total biogas produced was 2.180 m3. The gas yield was dependent on the type of substrate and environmental temperature. The results depicted the suitability of using cow and pig dung as substrates for biogas production under natural temperature variations. The findings show that biogas from cow and pig dung is a viable and sustainable cooking fuel. Adopting this technology can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower the environmental and health risks associated with their use. Additionally, using inexpensive, locally available materials to build digesters makes this approach practical for resource-limited communities.
References
Adeleke, E., Anjuwon, E. E. and Giwa, S.O. (2025). Using mixture of avocado seed, and cassava peels blended with cow dung, Arid zone journal of engineering, technology and environment, 21 (2), 618-625.
Alvarez, Y. C., Borges, R. J., Vidal, C. D. P., Leon, F. M. C., Buendia, J. S. P., & Nolasco, J. A. S. (2024). Design improvements and best practices in small-scale biodigesters for sustainable biogas production: A case study in the chillon valley, Peru. Energies, 18(2), 338.
Angelidaki, I., Alves, M., Bolzonella, D., Borzacconi, L., Campos, J. L., Guwy, A. J., Kalyuzhnyi, S., Jenicek, P., & van Lier, J. B. (2011). Defining the biomethane potential (BMP) of solid organic wastes and energy crops: A proposed protocol for batch assays, Water Research, 45(3), 1214–1226.
AOAC (2019): Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official‟s Analytical Chemists, 21st Ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemist, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
Aransıola, E.F., Momodu, A.S., Okunade, I.D. and Adepoju, T.D. (2021). Biogas production as energy source and strategy for managing waste and climate change, Applied Sciences, 3(34):1-15
Aworanti, O. A., Agbede, O. O., Agarry, S. E., Ajani, A. O., Ogunkunle, O., Laseinde, O. T. and Fattah, I. M. R. (2023). Decoding anaerobic digestion: a holistic analysis of biomass waste technology, process kinetics, and operational variables. Energies, 16(8): 3378.
Ejigboye, P., Elemile, O., Gana, A., Oladejo, O., Olajide, O., Badejoko, B., ... & Gesiye, M. (2025). Anaerobic digestion of Gliricidia sepium inoculated with pig dung using a portable bio-digester for process optimization, Results in Engineering, 25, 103550.
Guimaraes, C.S, and Maia, D. R.S. (2023). Development of anaerobic biodigester for the production of biogas used in semi-continuous system bioprocesses: an efficient alternative for co-digestion of low biodegradability biomass. Biomass, 3(1): 18-30.
Gana, A.Hassan and Sa’id, A.A. (2025). Performance of cow dung-derived biogas as a sustainable cooking fuel, FUDMA Journal of Sciences, 9(12):769-774.
Herrera, A. M. N., Esteves, E. M. M., Mansouri, M., Breuhaus, P., & Morgado, C. D. R. V. (2026). Brazilian bioenergy generation from cattle and pig manure: An Economic Life Cycle Assessment, Renewable Energy, 125345.
Issahaku, M., Derkyi, N. S. A., & Kemausuor, F. (2024). A systematic review of the design considerations for the operation and maintenance of small-scale biogas digesters. Heliyon, 10 (1): 1-10
Jeppu, P.G.,Janardhan, J., · Kaup, S.,Janardhanan, A.,Mohammed, S. and· Acharya, S. (2021). Effect of feed slurry dilution and total solids on specific biogas production by anaerobic digestion in batch and semi batch reactors, Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 24:97–110
Jock, A.A., Magomya, A.M. and Essang E.T. (2023). Recycling and characterization of spent engine oil using two stages: solvent extraction and clay percolation techniques. FUDMA Journal of Sciences, 7(3): 182-185
Kulkarni, I., Zang, J. W., Leandro, W. M., Parikh, P., Adler, I., Fonseca-Zang, W. A., & Campos, L. C. (2021). Closed-loop biodigesters on small-scale farms in low-and middle-income countries: a review. Water, 13(19): 27-44.
Mapantsela, Y., Mukumba, P., Obileke, K., & Lethole, N. (2024). Portable biogas digester: a review. Gases, 4(3): 205-223.
Mungwe, J. N., Asoh, D. A., & Mbinkar, E. (2021). Design considerations of a flexible biogas digester system for use in rural communities of developing countries, Journal of sustainable Bioenergy systems, 11(4): 260-271.
Okwu, M. O., Samuel, O. D., Otanocha, O. B., Balogun, P. P., Tega, O. J. and Ojo, E. (2020). Design and development of a bio-digester for production of biogas from dual waste, World Journal of Engineering, 17(2): 247-260.
Olanipekun, A. A., Idusuyi, D. U., Aiyelokun, O. O., Saka, Q. O., Ajibola, C. D., Iweka, U. V., & Apabiekun, E. E. (2024). Design and Fabrication of Small-scale Bio-digester for Bio-fertilizer Production from Locally Sourced Construction and Organic Materials, Uniosun Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 6(2): 1-13
Orhorhoro, K.E., Ebunilo, P.O. and Godwin Ejuvwedia Sadjere, E.G. (2017). Experimental Determination of Effect of Total Solid (TS) and Volatile Solid (VS) on Biogas Yield, American Journal of Modern Energy, 3(6): 131-135
Provolo, G., Manuli, G., Finzi, A., Lucchini, G., Riva, E. and Sacchi, A.G. (2018). Effect of Pig and Cattle Slurry Application on Heavy Metal Composition of Maize Grown on Different Soils, Sustainability, 10(8): 2684
Tolessa, A. (2024). Current status and future prospects of small‐scale household biodigesters in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Journal of Energy, 2024(1), 5596028.
United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF]. (2021). Child injuries and violence: The facts. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/media/102551/file/Child-InjuryFact-Sheet 2021.pdf
Wang, Y., Wang, K., Zhou, X., Dai, B. and Daozhong Du, D. (2024). Calcium oxide enhances the anaerobic co-digestion of excess sludge and plant waste: performance and mechanism, Water Sci Technol., :1-15
World Health Organization [WHO]. (2022). Household air pollution and health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/household-air-pollution-and-health
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Alexander Asanja Jock, Amani David Haruna, Abdulkareem Mikail Alhaji, Yohanna Ukhinenwhe Samuel, Peter Mu’ar Kamtu
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
