Open International Journal of Technology Innovations and Research
Volume 001, Oct 2017
Biomethanation of Municipal
Solid Waste
Leonard Gituma1*, Catherine Njang’iru1 and Boniface G. Mukabane1
1
Department of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering,
Nairobi Technical Training Institute,
P.O. Box 30039-00100 Nairobi-Kenya
*Corresponding author email: , Tel: +254 708 741 182
Abstract
Our cities have lost their glory, beauty, and attraction due to the awful stench of organic solid
waste. This article tries to find a way of doing away with some of the solid waste. This
project sets up a technology that can be adopted to generate renewable energy from this
waste. The gas, so produced, can be used to generate electricity for street lighting or for
domestic use at reduced price. Consequently, there will be increased energy production in
Kenya hence rhyming our effort with Kenya’s Economic Blue Print of Vision 2030.
The project however had its challenges of having our raw feed mixed with other solids of
municipal wastes. Nevertheless, we adopted a site-sorting method to offset this barrier. The
application of anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste, though well established in many
European, India and other countries, has not been instituted in Kenya. However, there are
other-solid waste management procedures set in place by private organization which haven’t
met the expectations.
The characterization of the Organic Municipal Solid Waste has been studied for the influent
and effluent samples. It has been found that the concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen
increases and the concentration of nitrate and total phosphorus in the samples decrease at the
end of anaerobic digestion. A 10L reactor was used to study anaerobic reaction of Organic
municipal solid waste from within the Nairobi city. Data analysis showed that there is a great
energy potential of waste-to-energy in the city.
Keywords: Biomethanation; organic municipal solid waste; anaerobic digestion; ammonical
nitrogen; Biogas
, Open International Journal of Technology Innovations and Research
Volume 001, Oct 2017
gas to households within the city at affordable
1. Introduction price compared to the retailing prices of the
equivalent unit mass of the gas in the City.
1.1 Background information
Some investors are scared away by the state of
Municipal solid waste (MSW) may be taken to the waste in regard to aesthetic and general
be all types of solid waste generated by
city image (KNUS, 2008). This can be attested
households and commercial establishments,
to by figure 1.
and goods sold to the public, however, it does
not include industrial, hazardous and
construction wastes. Examples of municipal
solid wastes includes food and yard wastes,
newspaper and plastic wastes, rubber, furniture
glass and metal wastes.
The handling and disposal of MSW is a
growing concern as the population, standard of
living and the volume of waste generation in
Kenya continues to rise (Blottnitz, 2010). The
article tries to find a solution to waste disposal
to improve the image of Nairobi City and
produce renewable energy for the residents. It
employs cheap and environmentally friendly
method of aerobic respiration to degrade
Figure 1: A photo on showing Dandora
organic solid waste thus producing biogas.
damping station
1.2 Problem statement
1.3 Hypothesis of the study
It is important to appreciate the fact that in
The research made the following hypothesis;
Kenya lesser attention is paid to waste disposal
that the untidiness in the Nairobi and other
methods and the potential energy in the
cities in general is due to poor waste
disposed waste is disregarded as far as this
management. Organic waste in the city
research has found.
comprise of high decomposing matter.
Kenya is a developing country, therefore, the
The null hypothesis is that the untidiness of
standard of living of the majority may not
the City of Nairobi is not wholly on poor
allow them to afford cozy and expensive form
municipal solid waste disposal mechanisms.
of energy for basic human operations like
cooking. The project aims at offering cooking
1.4 Definition of terms
, Open International Journal of Technology Innovations and Research (IJTIR)
www.kabetenationalpolytechnic.ac.ke/conference
Volume 001, Oct 2017
MSW : Municipal solid waste The findings submitted to the United Nations
COD : Chemical oxygen Demand Environmental Program (UNEP), had a
SSO : Source Separated Organics conclusive report on average percentage
RDF : Refused Derived Fuel. composition of middle level income countries.
TSS : Total Suspended Solid The body found out that any one middle level
VSS : Volatile Suspended Solid income country like Kenya has organic waste
WHO : World Health Organisation composition of around 50-58% (UNEP, 2010).
KNUS : Knowledge Network on Urban This means that the middle level income
Settings countries have the highest potential to develop
JICA : Japan International Corporation organic waste fermentation as a waste disposal
Agency mechanism to leverage economy as well as
UN : United Nations enhancing cleanliness in our cities
UNEP : United Nations Environmental
Program
NEMA: National Environmental Management
Authority.
2. Literature review
2.1 Introduction
This chapter deals with world municipalities
who have tried or rather researched on the
same area and their outcome to attest
feasibility of this program in Nairobi, Kenya.
Biomethanation is an organic solid waste
disposal method. Nevertheless, there are some
other methods of solid waste disposal such as;
incineration, thermal gasification, plasma-arc In Kenya, no plant has been instituted yet,
gasification and pyrolysis. But in spite of this, though there were efforts to set up a plant in
biomethanation has proved to be the most Mtwapa, Mombasa by Jua Nguvu Company
effective in terms of cost and environmental Ltd. (bertrandpiccard, 2017). The project was
friendliness (Angelikadi, 2011). focusing on the methane extraction from the
organic landfill of Mombasa City.
2.2 Biomethanation scope
Volume 001, Oct 2017
Biomethanation of Municipal
Solid Waste
Leonard Gituma1*, Catherine Njang’iru1 and Boniface G. Mukabane1
1
Department of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering,
Nairobi Technical Training Institute,
P.O. Box 30039-00100 Nairobi-Kenya
*Corresponding author email: , Tel: +254 708 741 182
Abstract
Our cities have lost their glory, beauty, and attraction due to the awful stench of organic solid
waste. This article tries to find a way of doing away with some of the solid waste. This
project sets up a technology that can be adopted to generate renewable energy from this
waste. The gas, so produced, can be used to generate electricity for street lighting or for
domestic use at reduced price. Consequently, there will be increased energy production in
Kenya hence rhyming our effort with Kenya’s Economic Blue Print of Vision 2030.
The project however had its challenges of having our raw feed mixed with other solids of
municipal wastes. Nevertheless, we adopted a site-sorting method to offset this barrier. The
application of anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste, though well established in many
European, India and other countries, has not been instituted in Kenya. However, there are
other-solid waste management procedures set in place by private organization which haven’t
met the expectations.
The characterization of the Organic Municipal Solid Waste has been studied for the influent
and effluent samples. It has been found that the concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen
increases and the concentration of nitrate and total phosphorus in the samples decrease at the
end of anaerobic digestion. A 10L reactor was used to study anaerobic reaction of Organic
municipal solid waste from within the Nairobi city. Data analysis showed that there is a great
energy potential of waste-to-energy in the city.
Keywords: Biomethanation; organic municipal solid waste; anaerobic digestion; ammonical
nitrogen; Biogas
, Open International Journal of Technology Innovations and Research
Volume 001, Oct 2017
gas to households within the city at affordable
1. Introduction price compared to the retailing prices of the
equivalent unit mass of the gas in the City.
1.1 Background information
Some investors are scared away by the state of
Municipal solid waste (MSW) may be taken to the waste in regard to aesthetic and general
be all types of solid waste generated by
city image (KNUS, 2008). This can be attested
households and commercial establishments,
to by figure 1.
and goods sold to the public, however, it does
not include industrial, hazardous and
construction wastes. Examples of municipal
solid wastes includes food and yard wastes,
newspaper and plastic wastes, rubber, furniture
glass and metal wastes.
The handling and disposal of MSW is a
growing concern as the population, standard of
living and the volume of waste generation in
Kenya continues to rise (Blottnitz, 2010). The
article tries to find a solution to waste disposal
to improve the image of Nairobi City and
produce renewable energy for the residents. It
employs cheap and environmentally friendly
method of aerobic respiration to degrade
Figure 1: A photo on showing Dandora
organic solid waste thus producing biogas.
damping station
1.2 Problem statement
1.3 Hypothesis of the study
It is important to appreciate the fact that in
The research made the following hypothesis;
Kenya lesser attention is paid to waste disposal
that the untidiness in the Nairobi and other
methods and the potential energy in the
cities in general is due to poor waste
disposed waste is disregarded as far as this
management. Organic waste in the city
research has found.
comprise of high decomposing matter.
Kenya is a developing country, therefore, the
The null hypothesis is that the untidiness of
standard of living of the majority may not
the City of Nairobi is not wholly on poor
allow them to afford cozy and expensive form
municipal solid waste disposal mechanisms.
of energy for basic human operations like
cooking. The project aims at offering cooking
1.4 Definition of terms
, Open International Journal of Technology Innovations and Research (IJTIR)
www.kabetenationalpolytechnic.ac.ke/conference
Volume 001, Oct 2017
MSW : Municipal solid waste The findings submitted to the United Nations
COD : Chemical oxygen Demand Environmental Program (UNEP), had a
SSO : Source Separated Organics conclusive report on average percentage
RDF : Refused Derived Fuel. composition of middle level income countries.
TSS : Total Suspended Solid The body found out that any one middle level
VSS : Volatile Suspended Solid income country like Kenya has organic waste
WHO : World Health Organisation composition of around 50-58% (UNEP, 2010).
KNUS : Knowledge Network on Urban This means that the middle level income
Settings countries have the highest potential to develop
JICA : Japan International Corporation organic waste fermentation as a waste disposal
Agency mechanism to leverage economy as well as
UN : United Nations enhancing cleanliness in our cities
UNEP : United Nations Environmental
Program
NEMA: National Environmental Management
Authority.
2. Literature review
2.1 Introduction
This chapter deals with world municipalities
who have tried or rather researched on the
same area and their outcome to attest
feasibility of this program in Nairobi, Kenya.
Biomethanation is an organic solid waste
disposal method. Nevertheless, there are some
other methods of solid waste disposal such as;
incineration, thermal gasification, plasma-arc In Kenya, no plant has been instituted yet,
gasification and pyrolysis. But in spite of this, though there were efforts to set up a plant in
biomethanation has proved to be the most Mtwapa, Mombasa by Jua Nguvu Company
effective in terms of cost and environmental Ltd. (bertrandpiccard, 2017). The project was
friendliness (Angelikadi, 2011). focusing on the methane extraction from the
organic landfill of Mombasa City.
2.2 Biomethanation scope
