Brief: Biogas Production from Cow Manure

This project tackles the production of biogas (mainly methane) from cow manure and municipal solid wastes
generated in kitchens and sewage on large scales (e.g. hotels and factories wastes). This idea serves as an
alternative method of energy conservation and useful investment of resources. Also, these piling wastes
formulate a great burden on the environment.
According to the Annual Report of Waste Management statistics in Egypt issued in 2013, Egypt produces around
21 million TPA (tons per annum) of municipal solid wastes. Another fact to be added; an average cow produces
20 to 30 kg/day of manure. With Egypt having more than 4.5 million cows, this is a lot of energy to use.
In this process, biogas is produced by anaerobic digestion using anaerobic bacteria. In other words,
biodegradable material (waste) is fermented in the absence of oxygen within a digestion (fermentation) tank.
The product biogas will mainly contain carbon dioxide and methane, with small amounts of hydrogen sulfide,
siloxanes, carbon monoxide and moisture. The degree of purification depends on many factors including
environmental regulations and the subsequent application for which the biogas will be used.
Basically, it is a four-step process. The process goes as follows:
I) HYDROLYSIS
It is the process of breaking the chains and dissolving the small molecules into a solution. Therefore, the first
step in anaerobic digestion is the hydrolysis of these high-molecular-weight polymeric components. In
hydrolysis the complex organic molecules are
broken down into amino acids, simple sugars, and
fatty acids.
II) ACIDOGENESIS
It is a biological process which results in further
breakdown of the remaining components by
bacteria called acidogenic. Here, VFAs (volatile
fatty acids) are created, along with carbon dioxide,
ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide, and also some
other by products. The acidogenesis process is
similar to the way milk sours.
III) ACETOGENESIS
In this process, simple molecules created in the
acidogenesis phase are further digested by
acetogens for producing large amount of acetic
acid, hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
IV) METHANOGENESIS
In this process, methanogens use intermediate products from the previous stages and convert them into water,
methane and carbon dioxide. In this process, majority of the biogas is emitted. For this process, pH plays an
important role it should be between 6.5 and 8.
A simplified chemical equation that describes the overall process can be stated as follows:
𝐶6 𝐻12 𝑂6 → 3𝐶𝑂2 + 3𝐶𝐻4