Towards a sustainable use of food waste: influence of urea on biogas production potentials of selected fruit wastes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Online publication date: Sat, 24-May-2014
by Getachew Dagnew Gebreeyessus; Berhanu Assefa Demessie
International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development (IJESD), Vol. 13, No. 2, 2014
Abstract: This study evaluates the influence of adding urea on biogas (methane) production potentials of selected fruit wastes. Using standard methodology, the finding revealed that all the fruit wastes are ideal substrates for biogas production. The ultimate biogas yield on anaerobic digestion of fruit waste feeds, avocado, banana, and mango, are 0.48, 0.57, 0.53 l/g VS without urea supplement and 0.76, 0.82, 0.82 l/g VS with urea supplement, respectively. Thus, urea addition improved significantly the biogas yield. However, volatile fatty acids, alkalinity and pH follow-ups showed rapid acidification partly in digesters. The ultimate CH4 percentage did not show significant difference in response to urea supplement. It gave 0. 27, 0.33, 0.27 l/g VS without urea supplement and 0.44, 0.46, 0.43 l/g VS with urea supplement on anaerobic digestion for avocado, banana, and mango fruit wastes, respectively.
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