Towards the Development of a Biogas Database System in Kenya – A Multi-objective Study on Biogas Usage and Potency of Various Agricultural Residues in Kenya

Kenya being an agricultural based economy produces vast amounts of agricultural bio-waste such as maize/corn stalks, rice and wheat straws, tea and coffee waste, sugarcane, banana and barley residues, sisal and cotton wastes as well as other forest residues. Most of these residues are regarded as of no immediate value hence they are wasted in the farms through burning or uncontrolled decay thus leading to nutrient leakage and eutrophication to the surrounding water bodies as well as contributing to odour and green-house gas emission through release of volatile and un-burnt hydrocarbons.  The main objective of the present research was to identify and develop biogas data variables in Kenya through a structured use of anaerobic digestion as a means of producing biogas from agricultural bio-waste including animal manure and crop residues. The short-term target of the research project was a phased development of well defined/structured data variables suitable for a multilayered database system on biogas energy in Kenya, which could later form a basis for the development of a real time biogas information dissemination platform that can be replicated in other regions across Africa. Literature review was done by means of desk study while field surveys were conducted to gather qualitative as well as quantitative data for analysis and uploading onto a Geographic Information System (GIS) based data mapping. Direct interviews were based on a schedule that employed a combination of direct site visits, emails and phone calls. Laboratory-based physical/bio-chemical characterization of biogas feedstock was also conducted. Discussions with diverse biogas stake holders elicited 100% support from respondents in addition to yielding an array of recommendations. The bio‐methane results further demonstrated the suitability of coffee pulp residue, cotton residue and maize stover as complementary biogas feedstock. The biogas quality in terms of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and methane (CH4) content was quite promising. The biogas H2S content (ppmv) for all the substrates ranged from as low as 105 (for maize stover) to 1100 (sugarcane leaves) whereas the CH4 content varied from 40% (sugar cane leaves) to 62% (cotton residue). Generally CH4 content is required to be above 50% whereas the presence of contaminants such as H2S is supposed to be less than 1000ppmv. From the results, biogas from coffee pulp residue, sugarcane bagasse, maize stover, cotton residue and banana stalks can be recommended as suitable alternatives for domestic biogas production. Keywords: Biogas database, residue potency, energy, Kenya

Sustainability Assessment Framework for Bio Waste Energy in Kenya

Sustainability and sustainable development are broad concepts that have continued to attract increased attention within the public and private sector thus gaining a broad acceptance as the guiding principle for both public policy and corporate strategies. Sustainability is a technical balance between the present and future interests. However, there are challenges in the implementation of the sustainability concept owing to the multi-dimensionality of the sustainability goal coupled with the complexity of socio-economic and biophysical systems. Sustainable energy exemplifies such a panorama.  In this paper, while focusing on sustainable energy, a framework is designed for comparing the environmental, technical and socio-economic performance of different biogas systems.  Furthermore, an approach for operationalizing the designed framework is proposed. Innovative aspects of the proposed framework are the development of a multi dimensional assessment system with a typology of multi criteria indicators relevant for biogas energy. In addition two main sustainability issues that could potentially undermine the sustainability of Bio waste-based Biogas Energy (BBE) and hence the assessment framework are defined highlighting the associated opportunities and risks. First land use, opportunities and risks are to be taken into account. However since BBE relies on residues such as agro-based residues, it therefore follows that BBE systems do not have stringent land quality requirements. This implies that technically all the land under agricultural production can be deemed to be available for BBE production. Consequently it can be accentuated that BBE production does not compete with agricultural land and avoids conversion of land with high carbon stocks. In addition since bio waste energy relies on bio waste such as agro residues, it suffices to say that there are no inherent land use risks specific to BBE production. The second sustainability issue of major concern is resource use, opportunities and risks. While BBE offers possibilities for improving efficient utilization of raw materials, there are concerns on how to tackle potential risks such as soil organic carbon stocks. Nevertheless, the possibilities for closed loop biomass resource cascade configurations are deemed to sufficiently address the forgoing concerns. Keywords: Sustainability framework, Bio waste biogas, energy, Kenya

Short Report: Association Between Chloroquine and Amodiaquine Resistance and Allelic Variation in the Plasmodium Falciparum Multiple Drug Resistance 1 Gene and the Chloroquine Resistance Transporter Gene in Isolates from the Upper Nile in Southern Sudan.

Amodiaquine, a 4-aminoquinoline compound, is being considered as an alternative to chloroquine and pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine where resistance in Plasmodium falciparum to both drugs has been selected. Although amodiaquine is more potent than chloroquine, its effectiveness is reduced in areas where chloroquine resistance is high. We report an association of the P. falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (pfcrt) gene and the P. falciparum multiple drug resistance 1 (pfmdr1) gene, two chloroquine resistance markers, with chloroquine and amodiaquine efficacy in vivo in southern Sudan. The data show that the allele of the pfcrt gene with a lysine to threonine change at codon 76 is strongly associated with both chloroquine and amodiaquine resistance. No such association was observed with the pfmdr1 gene

Cooperative financial institutions (CFIs) as a source of development finance - a case study on Sub-Saharan Africa

The lack of access to finance is cited as one of the major barriers preventing developing countries from attaining economic development. While traditional sources of financing such as Official Development Assistance (ODA), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Remittances have done much to alleviate the problem, they have left what is termed the missing middle; a financing gap created by failure to provide financing particularly for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and for the poor in the subject countries. The major impediments have included lack of collateral, inadequate training and business knowledge and risk aversion on the part of traditional financial institutions such as banks. Further, domestic resource mobilization endeavours have concentrated on tax reforms to improve governments' revenue collection and administration, leaving personal savings aggregation unattended. This financing gap is despite knowledge that MSMEs possess the most potential for employment creation, thus poverty alleviation for the masses. Cooperative Financial Institutions have been in existence for a long time and have the potential to provide innovative solutions in addressing the problem at hand. They have however, received little attention and recognition and the historical association with agriculture and the older generation has limited their outreach and impact. This study is thus intended to explore whether CFIs can bridge the financing gap for MSMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa

Cobalt removal from wastewater using pine sawdust

Agricultural wastes can cause environmental problems if not well managed, but there is a lot of potential to use these wastes as raw material in other processes. In this investigation, pine sawdust was evaluated as an adsorbent in the treatment of wastewater containing cobalt ions. A two-level three-factor full-factorial experimental design with centre points was used to study the interactive effect of the operating parameters in order to achieve the best conditions for the batch adsorption of cobalt ions. A response surface analysis was also conducted to further understand the interactions amongst the factors such as adsorbent dose, solution pH and initial concentration. In addition, adsorption isotherms, namely the Freundlich and Langmuir, were used to characterize the removal of cobalt from the wastewater. It was observed that the combined effect of low adsorbent dose, high pH and high initial concentration of wastewater resulted in the highest adsorption capacity. The Freundlich isotherm provided a better fit to the experimental data than the Langmuir isotherm. Moreover, pine sawdust showed adsorption capabilities for cobalt, and hence it could be an option in the quest to use waste to treat wastewater

Analysis of Effect of Heat-Setting Temperatures on Crimp Parameters in Polypropylene Single-Fibres via Favimat-Robot

The study on the effects of heat-setting temperature on crimp parameters of Polypropylene (PP) single-fibres was initiated by a non-woven manufacturing industry. The study is therefore important as it is addresses the real need raised by the industry to have a better comprehension of effects of heat-setting temperatures  in order to optimize and develop a superior end-product. The exploratory research was conducted on non-conventional single-fibre tester Favimat-Robot (Technico), Germany at the Textile Physical testing Laboratory of Vakgroep Textielkunde Universiteit Gent (Ghent University), Belgium. Testing of PP single-fibres was limited to the following crimp parameters: Crimp Force, Crimp Length, Crimp Extension, Crimp Amplitude and Number of Crimps per cm. The collected data was statistically analyzed by the Analysis of Variance test ANOVA, using STATGRAPHICS Centurion XVI.II software, while chart was generated using Microsoft excel program. Major findings of this study reviled that all crimp parameters show a high variation. The study also revealed that the Number of Crimps per cm is increasing with increased temperature, while Crimp Length and Crimp Amplitude are decreasing with increased temperature. From the results it can be also concluded that neither of heat-setting temperatures had a clear effect on Crimp Force and on Crimp Extension. Two crimp parameters-Crimp Extension and Number of Crimps per cm-showed statistically significant difference. For more definite conclusions, the study recommends, in further research-experiments, to break the temperature-range into smaller segments, and to increase subject-temperature from two to five, by incorporating 125,130 and 135o C. Keywords: single fibre, Polypropylene, crimp, Favimat, testing

Barriers and Solutions for Increasing the Integration of Solar Photovoltaic in Kenya’s Electricity Mix

Currently, Kenya depends mainly on oil, geothermal energy and hydro resources for electricity production, however all three have associated issues. Oil-based electricity generation is environmentally harmful, expensive and a burden to the national trade balance. The rivers for hydropower and their tributaries are found in arid and semi-arid areas with erratic rainfall leading to problems of supply security, and geothermal exploitation has cost and risk issues amongst others. Given these problems and the fact that Kenya has a significant yet underexploited potential for photo voltaic (PV)-based power generation, the limited—although growing—exploitation of solar PV in Kenya is explored in this paper as a means of diversifying and stabilising electricity supply. The potential for integration of PV into the Kenyan electricity generation mix is analysed together with the sociotechnical, economic, political, and institutional and policy barriers, which limit PV integration. We argue that these barriers can be overcome with improved and more robust policy regulations, additional investments in research and development, and improved coordination of the use of different renewable energy sources. Most noticeably, storage solutions and other elements of flexibility need to be incorporated to balance the intermittent character of electricity generation based on solar PV