ENHANCED BIOGAS PRODUCTION FROM POULTRY DROPPINGS USING CORN-COB AND WASTE PAPER AS CO-SUBSTRATE. AREMU, M .O. + Department of Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, +234, Nigeria debola_4@yahoo.co.uk AGARRY, S. E. Department of Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, +234, Nigeria sam_agarry@yahoo.com Abstract The rising cost of conventional fuel in urban areas have necessitates the exploration of other cheap, renewable and sustainable alternative energy sources. This study investigates the potential of plant and animal wastes for biogas production at laboratory scales. The study was carried out through anaerobic fermentation using poultry droppings as main substrate and corn-cob and waste papers as co-substrate. The fermentation was carried out at temperatures between 27 – 35 °C and pH range of 4.2 – 8.0 for a period of 30 days. The results showed that poultry droppings alone in bio-digester A gave a cumulative average biogas volume of 3452 cm 3 (115 cm 3 day - 1 ) and poultry droppings plus untreated co-substrates in bio-digester B gave a cumulative average biogas volume of 4811 cm 3 (160.3 cm 3 day -1 ) while poultry droppings plus treated co-substrates in bio-digesters C gave a cumulative average biogas volume of 6454 cm 3 (215.1 cm 3 day -1 ). Keywords: Anaerobic fermentation; Bio-digester; Biogas; Poultry droppings; Corn-cob; Waste papers. 1. Introduction Energy is one of the most important factors to global prosperity. In today’s energy demanding lifestyle, the need for exploring and exploiting new sources of energy which are renewable, sustainable as well as eco- friendly is inevitable. The overdependence on fossil fuels as primary energy source has led to global climate change, environmental pollution and degradation, thus leading to human health problems. In the year 2040, the world as predicted will have 9 – 10 billion people and must be provided with energy and materials [Nabuuna and Okure, 2005]. The majority of people in developing countries do not easily and steadily have access to advanced forms of energy such as electricity; therefore, they entirely depend on solid forms of fuels like firewood to meet their basic energy needs such as cooking and lighting. According to [GTZ, 2000], cooking accounts for about 90% of all household energy consumption in developing countries. At the same time, over 60% of the total wood in developing countries is used as wood fuel in form of either charcoal, especially in the urban areas or as firewood mostly in the rural areas. This has resulted in depleting forests at a faster rate than they can be replaced. Biogas is a well-established fuel that can supplement or even replace wood as an energy source for cooking and lighting in developing countries. Currently, as the fossil-based fuels become scarce and more expensive, the economics of biogas production is turning out to be more favorable. Biogas is a readily available energy resource that significantly reduces greenhouse-gas emission compared to the emission of landfill gas to the atmosphere [Nabuuna and Okure, 2005]. Moreover, with the increasing size and regional concentrations of confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), there is growing public concern over potential impact on environmental quality caused by CAFO-generated wastes [Fulford, 1998]. In response to this, regulatory agencies are scrutinizing animal waste management practices and revising regulations to reduce its environmental impact. Handling these wastes in compliance with stricter environmental regulations can have a significant economic impact on CAFOs. As a result, CAFO operators are evaluating waste management practices that convert wastes into higher value products. One approach to increasing the value of waste is to use it as an energy resource. Moreover, [Pound et al., 1981] observed that biogas production units provide a decentralized fuel supply and waste management system both of which are very attractive particularly in rural areas of developing countries. Aremu, M .O. et al. / International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST) ISSN : 0975-5462 Vol. 5 No.02 February 2013 247