Production of biogas from co-substrates using cow dung, pig dung, and vegetable waste: A case study in Cambodia

Sustainable waste management and renewable energy are crucial, particularly in Cambodia, where environmental concerns are rising. Organic waste, including cow dung (CD), pig dung (PD), and vegetable waste (VW), offers a promising source for biogas production and clean and renewable energy. However, the efficiency of this biogas production depends on the type of waste and processing conditions. We evaluated the quality, composition, and volume of biogas generated from organic waste, specifically CD, PD, and VW. Three experimental conditions were tested: 10 kg of CD with 10 liters of water, 5 kg of CD mixed with 5 kg of PD and 10 liters of water, and 5 kg of CD mixed with 5 kg of VW and 10 liters of water. As a result, the conversion of pure CD yielded a total volume of biogas up to 0.391 m³, with a methane percentage (CH₄) of 69.18%. The CD mixed with PD, which produced only 0.362 m³ of biogas with a CH₄ of 65.51%, and CD mixed with VW, which yielded a total biogas volume of only 0.319 m³ with a CH₄ of 68.17%. From the result, it can be concluded that the bioconversion of pure CD into biogas was the most efficient compared to the other two conditions.