Co-Digestion of Petroleum Sludge and Buffalo Dung by Batch Anaerobic Digestion System

Abstract

Globally, the petroleum industry plays a very significant role in producing oil to fulfil the demand of the growing population. The improper management of abandoned quantity of petroleum sludge that is one of the byproducts of petroleum industry has posed many environmental as well as socio-economic issues in most of the developing countries. The petroleum sludge contains various toxic substances, like minerals, oil, and other chemicals which are very harmful for biotic as well as abiotic environment. Meanwhile, a huge quantity of livestock manure, especially buffalo dung, is produced in villages and burned as fuel after drying in open atmosphere for domestic application without any treatment which generates indoor air pollution. This study was formulated to analyze the biochemical methane potential of buffalo dung with petroleum sludge at different mixing ratios (i.e., 1:1, 1.5:0.5 and 0.5:1.5) through batch digestion system. The substrates were prepared and characterized before and after batch digestion by using standard methodology. The maximum methane was obtained as 268 Nml/gVS, followed by 326 Nml/gVS and 191 Nml/gVS at mixing ratios of 1:1, 1.5:0.5 and 0.5:1.5, respectively. The results and findings of the study indicated that the co-digestion of buffalo dung with petroleum sludge at mixing ratio of 1.5:0.5 through continuous batch digestion would be the best option to enhance methane production.