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INTEGRATED PETROLEUM ENGINEERS COMPETITION (IPEC)

STUDENT PAPER COMPETITION, NOVEMBER 2017

Facing The Renewable And Affordable Energy: Biogas Pilot Project


With Cow Feces In Harapan Baru District Samarinda, East
Kalimantan
Yohanes Bosco Andy Williem Ifandy, STT MIGAS BALIKPAPAN

ABSTRACT
Cow feces has been widely used and utilized as an alternative energy called biogas. Biogas is an energy that
produced from organic matter and assisted with bacteria. Decomposition of potential organic waste to be
developed is to apply anaerobic digestion technology in order to produce biogas. Gas that dominated produced is
methane (CH4).
This research has purpose to observe the behavior of biogas pilot project. Our Pilot Project was applied
in Harapan Baru Farms, Samarinda, East Kalimantan. This pilot project used plug-flow reactor with continue
reaction; the ratio between cow feces and water is 1:4. The methodology started while the cow feces injected to
the reactor and got a recess phase for 15 days. A nutrition is added gradually every two days. This pilot project
monitored some parameters such as slurry pH, reactor pressure, biogas volume, and volatile solid (VS) for early
14 days.
Based on observation, the average slurry pH was about 6.71, average pressure 1.68 cm H 2O, and could
fulfill gas holder in one day with capacity 48 Liters. Biogas production based on volatile solid was every 2.08 mg
Volatile Solid evaporated, produced 1 Liter Biogas.

Keyword: Biogas, Cow Feces, Plug-flow Reactor, Volatile Solid

INTRODUCTION
Today fossil fuels such as kerosene, gasoline, and diesel are inefficient and have a negative
impact on the environment. The world’s threefold increase in energy consumption over the last
30 years, has led to new discoveries to improve fuel efficiency, the discovery of bioenergy in
many parts of the world. In Indonesia, through Bogor Agricultural University, research on the
utilization of renewable natural resources such as oil derived from plants or animal fats,
including one of which is palm oil. All materials are biodegradable and non-toxic and low-
emission so it is environmentally friendly. Bioenergy is a viable alternative form to increase
public awareness to use environmentally friendly fuels as contained in the Kyoto Protocol. The
reason for choosing bioenergy is because it is environmentally friendly, biodegradable, non-
toxic, low emission, and renewable. This research’s purpose is to observe the behavior of
biogas in the pilot project with plug-flow reactor and continue reaction.

BASIC THEORY
Biogas is one of the fastest growing alternative energy sources in the last decade. Biogas
making the technology uses organic waste, both animal waste and vegetable by utilizing
anaerobic bacteria contained in the feces for the fermentation process that produces methane
gas. In general, all organic materials can be proceed to produce biogas. But only homogenous
organic materials, both solid and liquid are suitable for simple biogas systems.

Biogas Characteristics
The main composition in biogas are methane and carbon dioxide. Of the mixtures of gases,
methane (CH4) is the most common component, while the other gases are in relatively small
proportions (Sahidu, 1983). According to Kadir (1987), the amount of biogas produced
depends on the composition of the materials used, the temperature and the duration of
decomposition.

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Biogas has flammable properties and can even turn on by itself at a temperature of 650-750 0C.
The combustion heat ranged from 19.7 to 23 Mega Joule (MJ/m3). The energy that can be
generated is on average equivalent to 21.5 MH or 563 Btu/ft3. Biogas produced by anaerobic
activity is very popularly used to treat biodegradable waste because fuel can be produced while
destroying pathogenic bacteria and simultaneously reducing waste volume. Methane in biogas,
when burned will be relatively cleaner than coal and generate greater energy with fewer carbon
dioxide emissions. Biogas utilization plays an important role in waste management due
methane is more dangerous greenhouse gas in global warming when compared to carbon
dioxide. Relative density is 80 percent of air density and 120 percent methane density.

Table 1. Biogas Composition


Component Formula Percent
Methane CH4 55 – 65%
Carbon Dioxide CO2 36 – 45%
Nitrogen N2 0 -3%
Hydrogen H2 0 - 1%
Oxygen O2 0 - 1%
Hydrogen Sulfide H2S 0 - 1%

Factors Affecting Biogas Production


Material Size
Smaller Material are faster to decompose through increasing surface area for microbial activity.
The size of material that is too large causes the surface area in the metabolism is narrower so
that the process takes the metabolism by the bacteria becomes increasingly slow or stalled
altogether.

C/N Ratio
In life, microbes require macro elements such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and
others as well as micro elements such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, cobalt, zinc, iron, and
others. According to Yani and Darwis (1990), microbes that play an anaerobic process require
nutrients to grow and develop, in the form of carbon and nitrogen sources. If the is little
nitrogen in the substrate, bacteria will not be able to produce the enzymes needed to synthesize
carbon-containing compounds (substrate). The equilibrium of carbon and nitrogen in substrates
used as substrates needs attention. Therefore, if too much nitrogen the growth of bacteria the
material whose ammonian content is very high. Based on some information obtained, for
optimum anaerobic bacteria growth, the optimum ratio of C: N ranges from 20: 1 to 30: 1.
According to Fry (1974), the C / N ratio of organic matter greatly determines microbial activity
and biogas production. The carbon element needs can be met from carbohydrates, fats, and
organic acids, while the nitrogen needs are met from proteins, ammonia and nitrates.
Comparison of C / N (C / N ratio) substrates will affect the growth of microorganisms. A C /
N ratio for each organic material will affect the resulting biogas composition. C / N ratio that
is too low will produce biogas with low CH4 content, high CO2, low H2 and high N2. An
overly high C / N ratio will produce biogas with low CH4 content, high CO2, high H2 and low
N2. A balanced C / N ratio will produce biogas with high CH4, medium CO2, low H2 and N2.

pH of Substrate
Microbial growth in fermenters is strongly influenced by changes in pH. When a volatile acidic
compound is produced at a rapid rate exceeding the requirement, the fermentation condition is
unstable. According to Buren (1979), the stability of fermentation pH can be maintained by
using buffer capacity (buffer capacity). According to Yani and Darwis (1990), the best pH

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value for a digester is about 7.0. If the pH value below 6.5 then the activity will decrease, while
the pH value below 5.0 fermentation will be stopped.

Total Solid
The definition of total solid (TS) is the amount of solid material present in the waste in the
organic material during the organic process during the digester process and indicates the rate
of destruction of the organic matter solids solids. TS also indicates the amount of solids in
organic matter and TS values also greatly affect the duration of the digestion process (HRT) of
organic matter.

Volatile Solid
Volatile Solid is a solid part that turns into a gas phase at the stage of acidification and
methanogenesis as in the process of fermentation of organic waste. In laboratory-scale testing,
the weight when the solid piece of organic material is lost to burn (evaporating and gasified)
with combustion at 5380C, referred to as volatile solid.

Plug Flow Digester


This type of digester is suitable for waste derived from ruminants that have a solid content of
between 11 - 13%. Characteristic of this type has a collection place of dirt, mixing place and
tank digester. At the mixing site, the addition of water is adjusted so that the slurry has an
optimum consistency. The digester is usually rectangular, watertight, and with a revampable
cap. On individual farms, small-scale plug-flow designs or closed-loop digesters are simple
designs and can produce biogas to meet electricity and heating needs.

Figure 1. Plug Flow Digester

Cow Feces
As an ingredient used in biogas reactors, cow dung is a potentially complete base material and
consists of simple structured molecules that are easily revamped by bacteria. Livestock manure
is widely used because it is easily processed into a homogeneous slurry. C / N ratio of livestock
manure is also good because it has a value close to 30 as the optimum value of basic biogas
materials. From Guidebook on Development data, 1984 biogas potential of cow dung ranged
from 23 to 40 mL / g cow dung. Gunnerson et al., 1986 says that the potential for the reduction
of Volatile Solid values as a basis for calculating the substrate ranges from 20 to 80%.
According to Kalle et al, 1984 that the moisture content of cow dung is about 81-85% total,
Total Solid 15%, crude fiber between 37-38%, protein content 5,6 - 6,0%, fat content between
1,4 - 2.0% with ash content 16.3 - 19% with Volatile Solid content between 81 - 84%.

Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic Digestion is a gradual conversion process of organic compounds into CH4 and
carbon dioxide (CO2) by hydrolysis, acidogenic, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis (Appels et
al., 2008).

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Hydrolysis
At the hydrolysis stage, complex organic polymers (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) and long
suspended chain molecules will be hydrolyzed by extracellular enzymes to produce a smaller
dissolved product (Anonymous, 2011). The breakdown of complex organic compounds makes
them adsorbed directly and microorganisms are used as substrates (Schuner and Jarvis, 2009).

Acidogenesis
Amino acids, sugars and fatty acids produced by hydrolysis process are further fermented into
volatile fatty acids (acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid) (Anonymous, 2011). The total
concentration of volatile acids formed may increase with the increase of the value of organic
loading and the presence of toxic (Appels et al., 2008). Decrease in pH values can take place
quickly as the conversion of organic compounds into volatile fatty acids (Mai, 2006).
Decreased pH continues to be undesirable because it may lead to an increase in the effluent
COD level and an anaerobic digestion HRT system is required (Alkarimiah et al., 2011).

Acetogenesis
The third stage in anaerobic digestion is acetogenesis, in which volatile fatty acids other than
CH3COOH produced by acidogenesis are digested further by acetogenic bacteria to produce
CH3COOH, CO2 and H2 (Appels et al., 2008). When H2 and CO2 gas are formed large, COD
reduction can occur up to 10% (Alexiou, 1998).

Methanogenensis
The acetogenesis product is further described to be CH4 and CO2 by methanogen by breaking
CH3COOH and the reaction between H2 and CO2 (Appels et al., 2008). Increased pH will occur
in the stages of methanogenesis. The greatest reduction of COD will result from the conversion
of CH3COOH to CH4 (Foxon et al., 2006) since 70% of total CH4 is produced in an anaerobic
digestion system produced by the breaking process CH3COOH (Seghezzo, 2004).
Methanogenic bacteria is the most sensitive group of bacteria to oxygen and pH. Dissolved
oxygen levels of 0.01 mg / l have been able to inhibit the growth of methanogenic bacteria
(Marchaim, 1991). The decrease in methanogen growth rate was significant in conditions
outside the pH range of 6.5-8.2 (Hudson, 2010). At a pH value below 6, CH4 production rate
will be very slow (Zaher, 2005). However, NH3 concentrations may increase as pH values
increase, thus inhibiting the activity of methanogens, especially those that play CH3COOH to
CH4 and lead to conditions in which the process is stable but with low CH4 production rates
(Seghezzo, 2004).

METHODOLOGY
The digester/reactor volume is 157.78 L, the fermentation time is about 15 days. Our responded
variable are pH, biogas pressure, biogas volume, and volatile solid.

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Plug Flow Reactor Designing

The Making of Starter with The Ratio of Cow


Feces with Water 1:4.

Fermenting for 15 Days

Adding a cow substrate 1.5 Kg

Observe The Volume, Pressure, pH, and Perform


Volatile Solid Analysis.

Figure 2. Flow Diagram of Methodology

RESULT & DISCUSSION


Daily gas volume and pressure observations are conducted from 4-17 April 2013 continuously.
Observation of gas pressure everyday using U-Tube Manometer while observing the volume
of gas produced by using plastic that has been known as the total volume. The process
undertaken in this study is anaerobic digestion in which the decomposition of organic materials
by microbes is done in plug-flow reactor which operates continuously with the ratio of cow
dung and water 1: 4. Starter and substrate used is cow dung waste. In this study fermentation
time for 15 days and then do the data for 14 days in a row. To keep microbes alive and produce
biogas, added substrates every 2 days as much as 1.5 kg. Microbial growth can always be
observed using several parameters. These parameters are pH, volume, and pressure. The
parameters are very useful to know whether the fermentation process is running smoothly or
not. The ideal anaerobic process runs at a pH of about 6.5-7.6 (Ritmann and McCarty, 2001)

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with optimal pH ranging from 7-7.2 (Polprasert, 1995). The pH observation results can be seen
in the graph between pH and the following time:

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pH

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Time (Days)

Figure 2. Graph The Relationship between pH and Time

The results showed that pH during the study was an ideal pH. This pH condition affects the
condition of anaerobic microbes in producing biogas, especially methane. Seeing the pH
conditions, the growth of microorganisms in the reactor is optimal. To know the characteristics
of the next fermentation process described in the graph of the pressure relationship with the
time as follows.

1.9
1.8
1.7
Pressure (cm H2O)

1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Time (Days)

Figure 3. Graph The Relationship Pressure and Time

The graph indicates the gas pressure is likely to rise and stable. The resulting gas pressure also
affects the volume produced. The greater the pressure the more biogas produced.

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60

50

40
Volume (L)

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Time (Days)

Figure 4. Graph The Relationship Volume and Time

To be able to meet the gas holder with a total volume of 48 L only takes 1 day. Observation of
the volume of biogas can not be done optimally because there is a blockage in the hose caused
by condensed water vapor. The water vapor comes from a substrate having a high water content
of 84.02% and a dry content of 15.80%. The next parameter is a %volatile solid drop. A
decrease in volatile solid affects the effectiveness of acidification and methanogenesis.

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%Volatile Solid Drop

50
40
30
20
10
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Days -

Figure 5. Graph The Relationship %Volatile Solid Drop and Time

The graph indicates that the volatile solid decline is stable. The significant increase occurred
on the 4th day. This is because the substrate is not included regularly so that the process of
acidification and methanogenesis is not optimal. The smallest volatile solids decrease value
occurred on the 5th day of 2.37%.

To test the methane content is done flame test. The flame test is carried out on a modified stove.
The flame test aims to find out the time required to boil water by 500 mL. The results of the
observations are presented in Figure 6 below.

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120

100
Temperature (0C)

80

60

40

20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Time (Minutes)

Figure 6. Graph The Relationship Temperature and Time

From figure above, it can be seen that to boil water up to reach 970C takes 7 minutes. From
the data can be explained that the methane content produced can already be applied. The last
parameter is the amount of volatile solid content that becomes biogas, it is expressed in a solid
volatile that is divided by volume of gas per day.

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4.5
4
VS Output (mg/L)

3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Time (Days)

Figure 7. Graph The Relationship Volatile Solid Output and Time

From figure above can be seen the growth of biogas after the decomposition time. Broadly
speaking can be seen that the growth of biogas running normally. If the average number of
volatile solids evaporated for 14 days was obtained 2.08 mg / L. It proves that 2.08 mg of
volatile solid that is evaporated produces 1 liter of biogas.

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CONCLUSION
Based on the research it can be taken the conclusion as follows:
A. The average pH for the 14 days of the process is 6.71
B. To get 48 Liters of biogas takes 1 day.
C. The average pressure during the 14 days of the process is 1.68 cm H2O.
D. Every 2.08 mg/L of volatile solid that is evaporated produces 1 Liter of Biogas.

REFERENCES
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Complementary Treatment of Domestic Sewage in Regions with Hot Climates-A Review.
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Treatment of High Strength Industrial Wastewater. Newcastle University: Ph.D Thesis.
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Start-Up Performance of an Innovative Anaerobic Stage Reactor (ASR) using Synthetic
Wastewater. International Conference on Environment and Industrial Innovation.
September 10-11. Singapore: IACSIT Press, 133-137.
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Fermentation.http://www.pg.gda.pl/chem./Kaatedry/files/Stabilization.pdf. Diakses 2
Januari 2012.
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Anaerobic Digestion of Waste-Activated Sludge. Progress in Energy and Combustion
Science 34(1): 755-781.
 Buren, A. 1979. A Chinese Biogas Manual Intermediate Technology Publications. Foxon,
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N. Arjun, T. Lalbahadur and F.Bux (2006). The Evaluation of the Anaerobic Baffled
Reactor for Sanitation in Dense Perl-Urban Settlements. Durban: Report to the Water
Research Commision.
 Creamer, et all. 2008. Implication of Urine-to- Feces Ratio in the Thermophilic Anaerobic
Digestion of Swine Waste. ProQuest Agliculture Journals.
 Fry, L. J. 1974. Practical Building of Methane Power Plants for Rural Energy Indepence.
Standard Printing Santa Barbara. California.
 Gunnerson, C. G. dan D. C. Stuckey. 1986. Anaerobic Digestion: Principle and Practices
for Biogas System. The World Bank. Washington, D.C., U. S. A.
 Hudson, K. (2010). Operational Performance of The Anaerobic Baffled Reactor Used to
Treat Wastewater from a Peri-Urban Community. University of the Witwatersrand:
Master Thesis.
 Kadir, A. 1987. Energi. Universitas Indonesia-Press. Jakarta
 MetCalf & Eddy, 2003. Wastewater Engineering: Treatment Disposal and Reuse, 4th ed,
McGraw Hill Book Co: New York.
 Nurandani, et all. 2007. Uji Pembuatan Biogas dari Kotoran Gajah dengan Variasi
Penambahan Urine Gajah dan Air. Program Studi Teknik Lingkungan FT UNDIP.
 Sahidu, S. 1983. Kotoran Ternak sebagai Sumber Energi. Dewaruci Press. Jakarta.
 Seghezzo, L. (2004). Anaerobic Treatment of Domestic Wastewater in Subtropical
Regions: Wagenigen University: Ph.D Thesis.
 Taherzadeh, M.J. and Karimi (2008). Pretreatment of Lignosellulosic Wastes to Improve
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 Tim Laboratorium Pilot Plant. 2011. Penuntun Praktikum Laboratorium Satuan Operasi.
Samarinda: Politeknik Negeri Samarinda
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of Optimisation and Smooth Operation of WWTP’s. Ghent University: Ph.D Thesis.

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APPENDIX

Table 2. Observation of Daily Volume, Pressure, and pH


Observation Parameters
Time (Days)
Volume (Liter) Pressure (cm H2O) pH

Day-1 24 1,5 7

Day -2 48 1,8 7

Day -3 48 1,6 6

Day -4 48 1,6 7

Day -5 48 1,6 6

Day -6 48 1,6 7

Day -7 48 1,8 7

Day -8 48 1,8 6

Day -9 48 1,6 6

Day -10 48 1,6 7

Day -11 48 1,6 7

Day -12 48 1,8 7

Day -13 48 1,8 7

Day -14 48 1,8 7

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Table 3. The Calculation of %Volatile Solid Drop
Time %VS at %VS at %VS Drop

(Days) Input (%) Output (%) (%)

Day-1 77,78 62,07 20,2

Day -2 95,24 78,12 17,97

Day -3 75 66,67 11,11

Day -4 76,92 38,89 49,44

Day -5 78,79 76,92 2,37

Day -6 76,92 67,86 11,79

Day -7 77,08 68,81 10,73

Day -8 69,71 58,82 15,62

Day -9 78,71 69,87 11,23

Day -10 78,7 69,36 11,86

Day -11 76,81 69,61 9,38

Day -12 19,11 17,36 9,15

Day -13 81,09 77,55 4,36

Day -14 78,05 64,52 17,34

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Figure 8. Plug Flow Reactor/Digester with Gas Holder

Figure 9. Adding Substrate

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Figure 10. Pressure Measurement on Biogas Pilot Project

Figure 11. Blue Fire of Biogas Pilot Project

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