Stabilizing Environmental Conditions for Improved Biogas Generation: A Comparative Analysis of Above-ground and Underground Plastic Digester in Fed-batch Systems

The negative environmental effects of cow dung disposal and the limited supply of conventional gas sources call for innovative approaches to address both problems at the same time. The production of biogas from cow dung presents a viable solution for reducing environmental deterioration and providing a source of renewable energy. This study explores the complexities of producing biogas in a novel kind of plastic digester system over a period of fourteen days to clarify how effective it is in resolving these related issues. The result of this study reveals separate phases of biogas production: a latency period that is followed by a progressive increase in pressure readings that indicates the start of gas generation. But by day fourteen, 520 kPa of pressure was measured, and optimal gas yield is hindered by temperature swings between 27°C and 32°C as well as possible leaks. To overcome these obstacles, the plastic digester is buried underground, which maintains environmental conditions and encourages vital microbial activity that is necessary for the production of biogas. When comparing above-ground and underground setups, it was found that the latter significantly improves biogas generation efficiency by keeping the surrounding temperature at 34°C, speeds up biogas production, and produces noticeably higher pressure readings—up to 1200 kPa, which is more than twice as high as in non-buried setups. The environment is stabilized, which promotes microbial metabolism and increases the breakdown of organic waste and the production of methane. The result of the study also revealed that methane (CH4) has 63% while carbon dioxide (CO2) has 32% and other gases account for 5%. This strategy not only provides a viable means of managing waste but also supports the production of renewable energy, highlighting the revolutionary potential of biogas produced from cow dung in resolving related environmental and energy issues most cost-effectively.