Assessment of the potential for utilization of sugarcane derived press mud for biogas generation in South Nyanza sugarcane zones, Kenya

Abstract

Sugar industry produces a number of by-products during the process of sugar production such as bagasse, press mud or filter cake, ash, mill effluent, and trash. The press mud from the clarifiers is rich in organic matter thus can be utilized for biogas production.Currently in Kenya, press mud is being dumped as garbage or given to farmers as fertilizer. This disposal method pause some environmental challenges such as air pollution due to odour, surface and ground water pollution and pollutes the soil by increasing the soil wax content. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential for utilization of sugarcane derived press mud and use it as a feedstock for biogas production, upgrade biogas using locally available materials and to generate electricity from biogas generated from press mud in sugar factories. The research was carried out in South Nyanza Sugar Zone. The samples of sugarcane press mud were collected from South Nyanza Sugar Company (SONY), Sukari industry limited and Transmara Sugar Company. Chemical analysis/ characterization on the composition of the sugarcane were done at Kenya Sugar Research Foundation laboratories in Kisumu City.The result on the compositional analysis of the sugarcane press mud from the three sugar factories had slight variations of 2%. Average values were: moisture content 63.1%, ash content 16.1%, and C/N ratio 19.6%. This confirms the potential of the sugarcane press mud to produce biogas and the residue after anaerobic digestion is very rich in nutrients hence best bio-fertilizer.