Design, Construction, and Performance Evaluation of Plastic Biodigester
and the Storage of Biogas
V.A. Ezekoye, M.Sc.* and C.E. Okeke, Ph.D.
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
*
E-mail: vaezekoye@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This paper reports on the generation of biogas
using spent grains and rice husk, mixed
together. A 300 gallon plastic biodigester was
designed, constructed, and used to obtain
biogas from these wastes. Fifty percent (50%) of
spent grains were mixed with fifty percent (50%)
rice husk and this mixture was charged in one to
three ratio (1:3, waste and water). The digestion
of the slurries was undertaken in a batch
operation. All of the parameters necessary for
gas production were monitored and recorded.
The wastes started producing combustible gas
20 days after they were charged. The maximum
volume of biogas obtained from the wastes was
th
150 litres on the 47 day. Observation shows
that rice husk increased the number of microbes
in the spent grains and quickened its gas
production. It was discovered that the waste has
a longer retention time. The conditions within the
digester suitable for the anaerobic microbes
were under mesophllic temperatures (20-45oC).
The biogas produced in this study were
compressed and stored in a cylinder and can be
moved from one place to another for a wide
range of applications.
(Keywords: renewable energy, agricultural waste,
biofuel waste derived fuel, microbial digestion,
anaerobic digestion, fermentation)
INTRODUCTION
The importance of energy in national
development can not be over-emphasized.
Energy is the hub around which the
development and industrialization of any nation
revolve. It is a fact that any distortion in energy
supply chain at any point in time results into
serious economic and social hardship. The
significance of energy in the provision of goods
and services and in the elevation of he standard
of living of mankind, and the role it plays in
The Pacific Journal of Science and Technology
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industries for sustainability of production is a well
known fact (Sambo, 2005).
There is increasing evidence that current global
energy policies, which promote the inefficient
use of fossil fuels and energy, are
environmentally irresponsible and unsustainable
since they cause significant environmental
degradation at the local, regional, and global
levels. Several studies have shown that by
incorporating renewable energy resources into
the overall energy mix or unit of nations any of
these negative environmental impacts of energy
use could be a voided or minimized.
The cost of energy for domestic, commercial,
and industrial uses in Nigeria has risen
astronomically in the past few years following
the liberalization and reform of the oil industry
and the energy sector as a whole. The cost of
energy is now a very significant factor which
determines the price paid by end-users of
commodities (National Energy Policy (NEP),
2005).
The injudicious use of primary biofuels in most
developing countries has caused many
problems such as deforestation, desertification,
erosion, and reduced biodiversity (Twindell and
Weirs, 1986).
Considerable numbers of brewery and rice mill
based industries exist in Nigeria today.
Substantial quantities of spent grains and rice
husk arising from them pose serious
environmental pollution and disposal issues.
Spent grains from the Ama Brewery Plant and
rice husk from the Adani Rice Mill can be used
to produce biogas through a process called
anaerobic digestion or fermentation. Anaerobic
digestion involves the breakdown of complex
carbohydrates to form fermentable substrates.
These substrates then undergo fermentation to
form pyruvic acid. In following stems pyruvic acid
is converted to biogas via acetic acid.
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Biogas, which is a biomass resource, is said to plant built with plastic by the authors is shown in
be ideal in deciding alternative sources of Figure 1. Its operation was of batch type.
energy for rural people in the sense that it is
cheap and local in origin and production. It is
also an energy source that is useful for multiple
purposes: heating, lighting, small scale electric
power generation, etc. (Tambawal, 2002).

Biogas is a colorless mixture of methane (60-

70%), carbon dioxide (20-30%), and trace
amounts of hydrogen sulphide (Yerima, 2001).
There is therefore, the need to popularize biogas
technology in Nigeria in view of the large
populations of brewery plants and related
agricultural industries. This will provide effective
utilization of brewery effluents and hence a good
check of environmental pollution caused by its
disposal.

Figure 1: Plastic Biogas Digester.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This paper is aimed at the following as it major

objectives:
a) To evaluate the performance of the
synthetic/plastic biodigester with regards to
biogas generation.
b) To determine the extent to which the mixture
of spent grains and rice husk generates
biogas.
c) To store the biogas produced under
pressure in portable gas cylinders.
d) To create awareness among Nigerians
related to the potential of generating biogas
from plant wastes (spent grains and rice
husk).
BIOGAS DIGESTERS
Several different designs of biogas plants have
been built but the two most popular are the
floating gas holder and the fixed dome digester.
There are different operations of biogas plants
and they may be classified under two headings:
1) the continuous plant in which the feeding is
done every day and 2) the batch plant in which
feeding is done at intervals.
The plant is emptied once the process of
digestion is completed. The fixed dome biogas
MATERIALS
Sources of Waste
The wastes use in this study were the spent
grains from Ama Brewery, Ninth Mile Corner,
Enugu State, while the rice husk was obtained
from Adani Rice Mill industry, Enugu State. A
three hundred gallon or (1200 litres) Geepee
(G.P) tank made from plastic/synthetic materials
was designed and constructed and used for this
experiment at mesophllic temperatures.
Preparation of the sample
It was ensured that foreign materials like earth,
sand, gravel, sawdust, soap, detergents, etc. did
not enter the digester or plant. The slurry was
prepared by weighing 48kg of spent grains and
48kg of rice husk using a “Five Goats” brand
model Z059599 weighing balance which was
graduated in imperial and metric scales of 0-
110Lb and 0-50kg respectively. Each weighed
sample was poured into a small drum. Tap water
weighed at 222kg was added to the waste inside
the drum in the ratio of 1:3 (waste to water). The
slurry was fully stirred manually with a piece of
wood until there were no lumps. The waste was
transferred to the plastic digester.

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METHODOLOGY Table 1: Proximate Composition of Spent
Grains/Rice Husks.
The digester was stirred occasionally with the
built-in stirrer that was attached to the digester. Components Analysis before Analysis after
A pH meter was used to measure the pH every digestion (%) digestion (%)
week. It ranged from 5.93 -7.73. The Ash 0.9 0.38
temperature of the slurry was observed daily Volatile solid 94.1 91.91
through the thermocouple wire that was inserted Total solid 88.76 95.8
into the digester: the thermocouple wires were Moisture 86.5 95.3
connected to the thermocouple digital Carbon 6.59 8.94
thermometer which measured the slurry pH 5.93 7.73
temperature. The ambient temperature was also Phosphorous 0.05 0.068
measured with the digital thermocouple Potassium 120ppm 12.5ppm
thermometer. These temperature readings fell Nitrogen 4.53 4.95
o
within (20-45 C) which corresponds to the
mesophyllic range.
Sample I: The spent grains and rice husk dilution
The pressure of the gas produced was recorded factor is 104.
daily using the pressure gauge that was fixed on
top of the digester. The pressure gauge (a VDO The number of colonies in each factor were 29,
pressure gauge) which ranges from 0-0.6 bars 30, 23, 26, 34, 31, 19, 21 c.f.u. (colony forming
was used. The pressure of biogas produced was units). The mean count/drop was 26.625;
between 0.00-0.25 bars. approximately 27 C.F.U. The volume/drop used
was 0.015 ml. The mean count/drop, dilution
The biogas generated was measured by factor and volume/drop values were used to
downward displacement of water. The volume of calculate the total viable count (TVC) of spent
water displaced was measured daily. The grains and rice husk.
highest volume for given day of the experiment
was 150 litres on the 47th day. Mean count/drop = 27 C.F.U.
Dilution factor = 104
The proximate composition of the spent grain Volume /drop = 0.015
and rice husk was carried out by the 27 × 10 4
methodology of the Association of Official TVC = = 18 × 10 6 c. f .u
Analytical Chemists (AOAC). This was done 0.015
before and after digestion of the waste (Eze, For fungi, the number of colonies in each of the
2003). factors was 20, 24, 18, 22, 17, 19, 20, and 23
which gives 20.375; approximately 20 C.F.U.
Total solids, volatile solids, and ash contents
were determined by using the standard procures Then yeast calculation is,
of American Public Health Association (APHA) 20 × 10 4

(Eze, 2003). All there were done in Department = 13 × 106 c. f .u

of Crop Science laboratory at the University of 0.015
Nigeria, Nsukka. The percentage contents of all
these components mentioned above were The microbial population was 18 x 106 C.F.U. for
recorded and are presented in Table 1. bacteria and 13 x 106 C.F.U. for fungi.

Culture media used – Total Viable Count Sampling and Analysis of Biogas from Spent
(TVC) Grains and Rice Husk by Orsat Apparatus

Nutrient Agar (oxoid) – bacteria and
Sabouraud’s Desetrose Agar Oxoid - fungi were
used for the cultivation and counting of total
bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, and fungi,
respectively. This was done in the Pharmacy
Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Biogas produced though this experiment was
trapped in a gas cylinder using gas compressor
and the sample was analysed using an Orsat
apparatus. The measuring principle of the Orsat
Apparatus is the measurement of the reduction
in volume which occurs when individual

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constituents of a gas are removed separately by Table 2: Percentages of the Components of
absorption in liquid reagents. All measurements Biogas.
during an analysis were made at constant
(atmospheric) temperature and pressure. Components Percent
Carbon dioxide (CO2) 30.7
For CO2 analysis, the reagents used were
potassium hydroxide solution 400g/dm3, with Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) 2.1
absorbing power as 40m/C02 per dm3 of Carbon monoxide (CO) 9.9
solution. The percentage by volume of each
Methane & water Vapour 52.3
constituent was calculated as follows:

Volume of constituent = V2 − V1
DATA COLLECTION
where V1 = burette reading (ml) before removal
of constituent,
The volume of biogas produced was recorded
on a daily basis. The mean daily gas yielded and
V2 = burette reading (ml) after removal of
other parameters were recorded as shown in
constituent.
Figure 2. However in this case the experiment
V2 − V1 100
Percentage of constituent = × was monitored for eleven weeks and 3 days
V 1 from the 24th of February to the 16th May 2006
Where V = volume of gas in burette before (Table 3).
removal of constituents
The daily ambient temperature over this period
V2 = 28ml varied from 20.4oC to 36.2oC, the average was
28.3oC. See Figures 3a and 3b.
V1 = 3ml

Volume of gas V = 81. 50ml GAS STORAGE

A gas compressor is a mechanical device that
V − V 100 increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its
C 02% = 2 1 × volume. Compression of a gas naturally
V 1
increases its temperature. Compressors are
closely related to mechanical pumps: both
25 100
C 02% = × = 30.67% increase the pressure on a fluid and both can
81.50 1 transport the fluid through a pipe. As gases are
= 30.7% compressible, the compressor also reduces the
volume of a gas, where as the main result of a
For H2S, the reagent used was 30% lead pump raising the pressure of a liquid is to allow
acetate solution in 3M acetic acid. the liquid to be transported into cylinder
(Wikipedi, 2002).
1.7
H 2S % = × 100 = 2.1% Two cylinders were constructed; one of the
81.50
cylinders has valves at the top and by the side of
its base. The other cylinder has a valve only at
For CO analysis, the reagent used was alkaline the top. Two pipes of 1cm in diameter were
cuprous chloride. welded to the two openings or pistons on the
compressor body. A hose was fixed on one of
V1 = 5.90ml V2 = 13.50ml the pipes and connected to the valve of one of
the cylinders while another hose was connected
V = 76.6ml to the second pipe and fixed on the valve at the
base side of the other cylinder. The hose from
7.60 100 the digester was fixed on the valve at the top of
C 0% = × = 9. 9% this same cylinder. Biogas is compressed in the
76.60 1 storage cylinder by two pistons.

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 7 0.9

0.8
6

0.7
5

Weekly quantity of gas produced (m3)

0.6
daily biogas yield (m3)

4
0.5

3 0.4

0.3
2
Series1
0.2
1

0.1

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 0
0 5 10 15
-1 -0.1
Retention Time
Weeks

Figure 2: Daily Biogas Production. Figure 3a: Weekly and Total Gas Yield from
Spent Grain and Rice Husk Wastes.

Table 3: Percentages of the Components of
Biogas.
Month
February
March
April
May
The system is powered by electricity. The biogas
can be used a home (Figure 4) or stored biogas
can be passed to a burner and it consumed with
blue flame (Figures 5 and 6).
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
The performance of the plastic biodigester plant
was very satisfactory. The problem of rusting or
corrosion which typically affects the production
of biogas was solved through the use of non
corroding materials.
The total volume of the constructed plastic
biodigester was 0.95m3. The digester was
charged with spent grains and rice husk in the
Average Amount ratio of 1:3. About 318 litres of the mixture or
of Gas Produced slurry was fed and stirring was done at least
0 once a day for 80 days.
2.164
3.215 Seven days could be considered as the average
0.480 production lag time (number of days required or
biogas production to start). Flammability tests
were conducted on the gas produced from the
8th day and it was discovered not to be
flammable. On the 20th day, the biogas produced
was combustible.
The biogas produced through this experiment
was stored in gas cylinders for 60 days using a
gas compressor. The plant is able to boil 6.6
litres of water in 30 minutes (Figure 6).
Fifty percent of rice husk added to the spent
grain acted as a seed or inoculum. Normal
biogas fermentation is impossible without a
sufficient quantity of biogas microbes.

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 31

30.5 1. Biogas cylinder

2. Pressure gauge
30 3. Rubber hose
4. Biogas Burner
Mean weekly ambient temperature C
o

29.5

29

28.5

28

27.5

Figure 5: Biogas Cylinder and Burner

27
Configuration.

26.5

26
0 5 10 15
Weeks
Figure 3b: Mean Weekly Ambient Temp (C).

1. Digester
2. Gas Storage Cylinder
3. Gas Compressor
4. Gas Extraction Cylinder
5. Rubber Hose

1. Cooking Valve 2. Rubber Hose

3. Gas cylinder 4. Iron pot
5. Iron Seater 6. Burner
7. Valve

Figure 6: Using Stored Biogas for Cooking.

It is these microbes that perform the function of

anaerobic degradation of organic substances to
yield methane. Inocula of different sources
contain different colonies of biogas microbes.
Rice husk was as the inoculum which enrich the
bacteria of the digester and enhanced their
action on the substrate and hence on the
quantity as well as quality of the biogas
generated. Seeding also reduced the lag phase.
For 80 days, the cumulative gas produced was
Figure 4: Digester and the Biogas Compressing 5.86m3 (Figure 7).
Components.

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 9

5
pH

pH
4

0
0 5 10 15
Retention Time (Days)

Figure 8a: Change in pH during Fermentation.

Figure 7: Daily Biogas Production. 1.4

Pressure
1.2
The analysis of slurry before and after digestion
showed marked differences in the
concentrations of various elements. The 1
nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium
concentration increased after digestion as can
be seen in Table 1. This is because the complex 0.8
molecules have been broken down to smaller
units thereby making the elements more
Pressure (bar)

available for utilization. The large cellulose 0.6

molecules are broken down to glucose and the
protein molecules to amino acids. The lipids are
also broken down to lactic acids ethanoic acid, 0.4
etc.
0.2
The methane bacteria are only at work when the
large molecules are broken down to smaller
units. The methanogenic bacteria are however 0
sensitive to the amount of the smaller units 0 5 10 15
formed. Excess acid produced in this process
will reduce the pH to the detriment of the -0.2
bacteria. The optimum pH for the production of Weeks
the biogas was from 5.93 – 7.79 (Figure 8a).
Satisfactory gas production occurred between Figure 8b: Change in Pressure during
pH 6.6 and 7.6. Fermentation.

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Temperature, the nature of the organic matter,
and its concentration were among the
parameters that impacted the performance of
the biogas plant (Figure 3b). Optimum yield of
biogas can be obtained with both mesophyllic
(30 – 40oC) and thermophilic (50 -60oC)
processes. The temperature of the inside of the
digester was (20.2 -36.0 oC) through out the
period of study. This range of the temperature
favours the mesophllic bacteria. The highest
pressure of the gas was 0.25 bars and the gas
produced that day was 150 litres (Figure 3b).
The mesophllic range may be preferred since, 1)
It is easy to maintain the digester at this
temperature, 2) mesophllic bacteria are more
stable than thermophyilic bacteria, 3) they
produce high quality sludge, and 4) significantly
higher rates of methane production can be
achieved with the mesophyllic process. The gas
produced each day was stored in the cylinder
using gas compression (Figure 4).
CONCLUSION
In developing countries like Nigeria, more than
80% of the population lives in the rural areas
where more than 90% of the energy being
consumed comes from non-commercial sources,
the major one being fuel wood. The increasing
cost of conventional fuel in urban areas
necessitates the exploration of other energy
sources. Animal and plant wastes are abundant
especially in rural areas. Biogas can be
produced from plant wastes as a substitute for
fossil fuels.
The generation of biogas from plant waste
(spent grains and rice husk) produces an energy
resource that was stored in gas cylinders and
used efficiently for direct conversion. The
process also creates an excellent residue that
retains the fertilizer value of the original waste
products.
The search for alternative energy sources such
as biogas should be intensified so that
ecological disasters like deforestation,
desertification, and erosion can be arrested. The
performance of the plastic synthetic biodigester
outlined in this paper was very satisfactory in the
provision of clean fuel and good quality fertilizer.
The age old problem of storing the produced
biogas was solved with a gas compressor which
compressed the biogas into the storage cylinder.
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RECOMMENDATION
Utilization of biogas technology is no longer in
doubt. For effective utilization of biogas
technology the following recommendations are
made:
a) Awareness of the Technology: To
encourage the use of biogas an awareness
campaign for potential users should be
undertaken.
b) Education/Training: There is a need to
evaluate the present institutional framework
for renewable energy education in Nigeria
(and other developing countries) and make
suggestions for a shift in policy toward
increasing its adoption rate.
c) Government: Government agencies should
take an active part in biogas projects as is
done in other countries like India and Nepal.
d) Incentives: Provision of subsides for
renewable energy education and
implementation should be undertaken to
encourage market development.
REFERENCES
1. Eze, J.I. 2003. “Some Factors Affecting Biogas
Production”. Nigerian Journal of Solar Energy.
14: 111-114.
2. Obasanjo, O. 2005. “Primary Objectives of
National Energy Policy”. Policy Speech: Abjua,
Nigeria.
3. Okogbue, E.C and Ojo, B.O. 2003. Local
Production of Renewable Energy (Biogas) from
Animal Waste for Domestic and Laboratory
Uses”. Nigerian Journal of Solar Energy. 14:121-
125.
4. Sambo, A.S. 2005. “Energy Commission of
Nigeria: On the Occasion of the Training in
Nigeria’s Industries”. NCERD, U.N.N.
5. Tanbawal, A.D. 2002. “A Comparative Study of
Biogas Production from Camel, Cattle, and Horse
Dungs”. Paper presented at NASEF 02. Kaduna,
Nigeria.
6. Twindell, J. and Weirs T. 1986. Renewable
Energy Resources. Taylor and Francis: London,
UK.
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7. Wikipedea Contributors. 2006 ”Gas Compressor”.
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gas_co
mpressor&oldid=77715028
8. Yerima, M.B., Rahman, A.T., and Ekwenchi, N.N.
2001. “Effect of Buffering on Biogas Fermentation
of Chicken Droppings”. Nigeria Journal of
Renewable Energy. 9(1&2): 47-49.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
V.A. Ezekoye, M.Sc., MSENE, is currently a
Ph.D. student faculty member of the Solid State
and Material Science Division, Department of
Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, Nigeria. She currently serves as a
lecturer in the Integrated Science Department,
Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, Kogi
State, Nigeria. Her research interest is in the
area of solar energy physics. She is presently
working in biogas generation and storage.
The Pacific Journal of Science and Technology
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C.E. Okeke, Ph.D, MSESN, FNIP, FAS, is a
professor of Experimental Solid State Physics,
member Solar Energy Society of Nigeria,
Fellows Nigerian Institute of Physics and Fellow
Nigerian Academy Sciences. He is currently the
President of the Solar Energy Solar Society of
Nigeria and a member of the academic staff of
the Department of Physics and Astronomy,
Division of Solid State, Materials Science and
Solar Energy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His
research interests include crystal growth and
characterizations, photovoltaics, and biogas
energy conversions.
SUGGESTED CITATION
Ezekoye, V.A. and C.E. Okeke. 2006. “Design,
Construction, and Performance Evaluation of
Plastic Biodigester and the Storage of Biogas”.
Pacific Journal of Science and Technology.
7(2):176-184.
Pacific Journal of Science and Technology
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