Comparative analysis of the energy content of methane from cow dung manure and poultry manure

Owing to the fact that life depends entirely on reliable and adequate supply of energy, the energy supply in Nigeria is inadequate due to limited generation of power with no improvement in sight. Her power situation affects the manufacturing, service and residential sectors of the economy which in turn affects the country’s economic growth. This study is a comparative analysis of the energy content of methane from cow dung and poultry manure using the biogas digester. Using 4g of dry samples of cow dung and poultry manure with 25ml of distilled water and 0.124g of yeast to function as a catalyst in order to facilitate the fermentation of the substrate, the biogas digester was set-up and the temperature was maintained at 40 – 560C while the gas was collected using the downward delivery method. Results shows that the average biogas production from cow dung and poultry manure were respectively (0.195dm3/day) and (0.151dm3/day). While, the percentage of methane in biogas were 18.60% cow dung and 21.36% poultry manure. Even though the poultry manure showed higher energy values in the first ten (10) days, the average energy content of methane obtained were cow dungmanure (1.195kJ/day) and poultrymanure (1.065kJ/day). However, energy content from animal waste especially cow dung can be harnessed; they can serve as alternative sources of energy that can support peak load and reduce over dependent on hydro to help boost the Nigerian economy.