THE ROLE OF MICROBES IN THE PRODUCTION OF BIOGAS FROM POULTRY DROPPINGS

Abstract

Biogas can be produced from various organic waste streams or as a byproduct from industrial processes. Beside energy production, the degradation of organic waste through anaerobic digestion offers other advantages, such as the prevention of odor release and the decrease of pathogens and can be utilized as fertilizer by the help of microorganisms. Production of biogas was conducted using poultry droppings. Twenty kilograms of feed stock was added into three 30 liters-capacity batch digesters. The anaerobic digestion was carried out within a temperature range of 25^OC-31^OC for a retention time of 51days. The results showed a cumulative gas yield of 4.9bars. Microorganisms identified to be involved in the process includes; Actinomyces isrealii, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Clostridium sp, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus nidulan, Trichophyton mentagrophytes Trichophyton rubrum and Epidermophyton flocossum. The non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) analysis of the biogas produced confirmed that the gas consisted of CH₄, CO₂ and H₂. The study therefore indicated poultry droppings (with the help of some microbes) are potential substrates for biogas production while digested poultry dropping is a potential biofertilizer for improving plant growth and yield when added to soil.