Thursday 3 December 2009

Methane Project

We should be reaching the final phase of our project to build a cheap anaerobic digester today.

We have the actual digester producing a gas of some sort, which I guess is methane, as it is flammable. Today, we connect it up to a calor gas table-top stove and we will see what happens.

We have been approached by an organisation in Bungoma that is looking for uses for the infernal menace, water hyacinth, which they harvest from Lake Victoria at Kisumu. So far, they are producing "charcoal" briquettes, compost, fertiliser and now they want to see if it will produce methane.

From what I can find out, it will, but due to the high water and gas content of the plant, it has to be crushed, pressed and at least partially dried, otherwise it will just float at the top of the digester and not rot down.

A bit more complicated than using slurry, but there is plenty of water hyacinth, which is a menace to fishing in Lake Victoria, so if we can find uses for it, so much the better. It is just a pity that it is not edible!

2 comments:

SteveK said...

Actually, water hyacinth can be eaten. "Green Deane's" "eat the weeds site has info: look at http://www.youtube.comwatch?v=V1kkn5Sz4MI
There's lots to be done with this troublemaker plant.

BabaMzungu said...

Hi Steve
Interesting video. I must try some the next time I go to Bungoma.
In fact, I have a lot of things I want to try out next time I'm there.