Anaerobic digestion of shea waste for energy generation

Energy from waste a reliable way to reduce the negative impact on the environment, shea waste was investigated to identify its potential in methane generation through anaerobic digestion.The basic raw materials for the study were shea waste and cow dung. Input substrates were prepared to bring the substrates to the required organic dry matter concentrations. Continuous feed system, under varying hydraulic retention times (HRT) and organic dry matter (odm) concentration of the waste was used. The experimental treatments were carried out in the following phases: cow dung fermentation at 30, 45 and 60 days HRT in 3%, 5% and 7% odm;mono-fermentation of shea waste at 30, 45 and 60 days HRT in 3%, 5% and 7% odm; co-fermentation of shea waste with cow dung in proportions of 50:50, 75:25 and 90:10 by volume, at 7% odm and 30 days HRT; and co-fermentation of substrate 50:50 at 7% odm and 20 days HRT. It was observed that process stability in anaerobic digestion of the shea waste could only be achieved through co-fermenation with cow dung in ratio 50:50 by volume at 7% odm concentrated for 30 days HRT. Methane generation from shea waste is feasible and recommended for Africa in waste control