3.1 Study Area
The study was carried out in Nakisunga Parish, Nakasunga Sub County, Mukono district, which is a neighbourhood of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The district is located at coordinates 0.2835° N, 32.7633° E, with a temperature range varying from 17°C to 28°C [29].
3.2 Data collection and analysis
A structured questionnaire was distributed randomly to 20 farms, 30 households, and 10 food processing businesses in Nakisunga Parish. The aim was to establish an estimate of the quantities and types of organic feedstocks and whether they are sufficient for biogas production. After distributing the questionnaires, responses were collected during in-person visits. The collected responses were organized and stored securely for data entry. Each response from the questionnaire was manually entered into the tally Excel sheets. Tally marks were used to count the number of times a particular response was given. The collected data were analyzed by representing it on a frequency table and pie chart using Microsoft Excel 2020.
3.3 Sample collection and preparation
Five feedstock samples were gathered, each weighing 500 grams as weighed using an electronic beam balance. These were pig manure, kitchen scraps, cow dung, chicken droppings and crop residues. Each sample was put in a polythene bag with a clear label and properly sealed to prevent contamination. After four days of sun drying, the samples were crushed with a crusher and pestle to a powder, the samples were then sieved and dried again for a day. The samples were taken to the laboratory to determine their pH, volatile solids, and total solids.
3.4 PH determination
The materials used were pH meter, distilled water, Gloves, Mixing container, Stirring rod and sample containers. The collected sample of the substrate was dried and ground up into fine powder materials for pH testing. The ground powder is then soaked in distilled water for 1 day. Using a pH meter, the pH of every sample substrate was determined. To make a pH measurement, the electrode was immersed into the sample solution until a steady reading was achieved. This was done for every sample and the results were tabulated.
3.5 Determination of Total Solid (TS)
Materials used were crucible, laboratory oven, Desiccator, Electronic precision balance, Dish tongs, wash bottles and muffle furnace. The amount of total solids is the amount of solid present in the sample after the loss of water molecules present in it. These were the procedures followed;
i. A crucible weighing 0.236kg was properly washed and dried in the oven at a temperature of 105°C for one hour. The crucible was stored and cooled in a desiccator until needed.
ii. The crucible was re-weighed before use (0.236kg)
iii. The laboratory oven was switched on and allowed to reach a temperature of 105°C. This temperature was maintained throughout the experiment
iv. A 0.500kg of the collected sample substrate was added to the crucible and diligently placed in the laboratory oven at a temperature of 105°C. The substrate sample was dried to a constant mass for a period of 1 to 2 hours.
v. The crucible plus substrate residue were allowed to cool in a desiccator to balance temperature. Desiccators are designed to provide an environment of standard dryness. The desiccator was properly lubricated with grease and this was to prevent moisture from entering the desiccator as the test glassware cools.
vi. The crucible plus substrate (material) residue was weighed using an electronic precision balance. Equation 1 was used to calculate the percentage of total solids.
Where TS = Percentage total solid
m1 = Weight of dried crucible + dried residue
m2 = Weight of crucible
m3 = Weight of wet sample (substrate) + crucible [30].
3.6 Determination of Volatile Solid (VS)
The residue obtained as TS was ignited at 6000c for 30 minutes in a muffle furnace.
The crucible and the black mass of carbon were collected to cool partially in the air before it was transferred to the desiccator for complete cooling. After cooling, the sample was weighed. Percentage volatile solids were calculated as shown in equation 2.
Where m4 is weight of crucible plus weight of residue after ignition [30].
3.7 Biochemical methane potential
To calculate the methane potential of substrates, also known as the biochemical methane potential (BMP), an empirical model called the Buswell model equation was used [31].
It therefore calculated the methane potential based on the volatile solids content of the substrate already determined. The Buswell equation is as shown in equation 3
Where:
BMP is the biochemical methane potential (expressed in mL CH4/g VS),
VS is the volatile solids content of the substrate (expressed in g/L),
e is the base of the natural logarithm (approximately 2.71828).
This equation provides an estimate of the methane potential based on the volatile solids content of the substrate. It assumes that the methane yield is a function of the volatile solids content and that the methane production follows first-order kinetics.