Determination of Bio-energy Potential of Palm Kernel Shell by Physicochemical Characterization

Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) is an economically and environmentally sustainable raw material for renewable energy industry. To this vane its physicochemical properties were determined for its most viable application in Renewable Energy options such as bioenergy and biomass utilization. Its higher heating values determined by bomb calorimetric method are 22.94 and 25.27MJ/kg on dry and dry ash free bases respectively while its thermo-gravimetric behavior shows that it can completely decompose between 400°C and 500°C. Its compositional analysis by 72% sulphuric acid hydrolysis and High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis of structural carbohydrates show that its lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose compositions are respectively 50%, 7% and 26%. Under high resolution scan electron microscope, (SEM), PKS contains natural micro pores that enable it release volatile matter necessary for bio-energy production. The results of the ultimate analysis show that the raw material contains high carbon and moderate h ydrogen content. These are responsible for the large value of its higher heating value. These results show that PKS possess valuable potential to supplement the energy supply of developing countries through sustainable renewable energy technologies.Keywords: palm kernel shell, bioenergy, thermogravimetric analysis, pyrolysis, gasificatio

Biodigestion of cassava peels blended with pig dung for methane generation

Biogas production from cassava (Manihot esculentus) peels and pig dung under a mesophilic temperature condition was investigated. Three blends of the wastes and a control labeled as B1, B2, B3 and C representing blend 1 (50:50 peel/dung), blend 2 (30:70 peel/dung), blend 3 (10:90 peel/dung) and control (pig dung alone) were used, respectively. Biodigestion of the wastes blends and control was carried out simultaneously under the same environmental and operational conditions of 30 days retention period using four metallic biodigesters of 32 L capacity each. The biogas yield result shows that blend 2 yielded the highest cumulative biogas of 78.5 L, while the least yield of 61.7 L was obtained by blend 3. When compared with the control set up and biodigestion of cassava waste alone from literature, there was blending effect resulting in increase in yield of biogas over the sole digestion of cassava peel or pig dung. Methane production leading to the combustibility of the biogas started at 6th, 5th, 5th and 4th days for B1, B2, B3 and C, respectively. This, in agreement with earlier studies show that better handling of cassava peels for energy production would be achieved by blending it with animal wastes in the right proportion.Keywords: Cassava peel, biogas, co-digestion, anaerobic digestion, wastes blends, lag daysAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(40), pp. 5956-596