Performance of selected organic wastes for available technologies for biogas, Kisumu City, Kenya

Inadequate solid wastes disposal exists in Kenya, for unsightliness and health problems. This study determined that available digesters performance differed for size and bio-material. Larger fixed dome, flexible tubing and ordinary drum (0.1 m3, 2.4 m3) sizes were thus tested within Kisumu County. Despite fixed dome having known design parameters, these technologies are not embraced for use. Market wastes were chopped to size while food and faecal wastes needed own or little water content, though all were mixed to porridge consistency. The 0.1 m3 drum produced high CO2 gas in small quantities as match box lighting test was positive only for market wastes (0.1 m3) tube. The larger dome and 2.4 m3 tube respectively produced gas for market (65%) and faecal (56%) wastes. A natural co-generation was observed in market waste and need for determining key digester size design parameters. The manual preparation best informs design automation and bio-digester management.