64

III METHODS AND MATERIALS

The methodology pertaining to the study on “Resource Recovery

from Organic Wastes through Institutional and Commu nity Biogas

Plants ” comprises of the following steps.

A. Survey of Institutional Biogas Plants

B. Comprehensive study of an Institutional Biogas Plant

C. Quantifying the organic waste in the Institution

D. Assessing the Resource recovery in terms of fuel energy, cost,

manurial value and environmental benefits

E. Evaluating the impact of Community Biogas Plant among women

beneficiaries

A. Survey of Institutional Biogas Plants

The social, environmental and ecological benefits accrued from

institutional biogas plant in large scale establishments such as educational

institutions, industries and hospitals need to be explored. Therefore, a survey

at micro level was felt necessary.

“Survey” is a fact finding study and is a method of research involving

collection of data directly from a population or a sample, at particular time.

It requires expert and imaginative planning, careful analysis and rational

interpretation of the findings (Ahuja, 2003). Data may be collected by

observation, or interviewing or mailing questionnaires. Krishnaswamy, (2002)

outlined several advantages for survey method. They are as follows:

• The versatility of the survey method is its greatest strength

• The survey method facilitates drawing generalizations about large

populations on the basis of studies of representative samples

• It is flexible to permit the use of various methods of collection of data:

observation, interviewing and mailing

• Survey sensitizes the researcher to unknown problems

• These are useful instrument for verifying theories.

In order to know the technical feasibility, functioning and resource

recovery, an investigation has been planned and executed in the institutions

65

where biogas is used for quantity cookery. The survey cum observation

method is an appropriate option to get reliable data.

This part of the study includes the following steps:

1. Locale of the area

2. Selection of institutions

3. Selection of research method and tools of enquiry

4. Formulation of research tool

5. Collection of data and

6. Analysis and interpretation of data

1. Locale of the Area

Tamil Nadu and Kerala states located in the Southern part of India

have been chosen for the study. Tamil Nadu is bounded on north by

Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, on west by Kerala, on east by the Bay of

Bengal and south by Indian Ocean. It covers an area of 1,30,058 sq.km with

32 districts. The total population of Tamil Nadu as per the 2011 census is

62,405,679 with 31,400,909 males, 31,004,770 females, a sex ratio of 987

females per 1000 males. Tamil Nadu has performed reasonably well in terms

of literacy growth during the decade 2001-2011. The state’s literacy rate

increase from 73.47 per cent in 2001 to 80.3 per cent in 2011. Agriculture

is the most predominant sector of the state economy.

Knowledge based industries like information technology and biotechnology

have become the thrust area in the industrial scene in Tamil Nadu

(http://en.wikipedia.org/nic/demographicsof_Tamil_Nadu). There are many

educational institutions and industries all around Tamil Nadu. To meet the

energy crisis many educational institutions and industries have installed

Institutional Biogas Plants in their premises.

Kerala is in the extreme south-west of the Indian subcontinent.

In between the high Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the

west the width of the state varies from 35km to 120km. It covers an area of

38,863 sq.km with 14 districts. The total population of Kerala stood at

31,841,374 with 15,468,614 males and 16,372,760 females, a sex ratio of

1058 females per 1000 males. The state’s literacy rate is 90.9 per cent.

66

This shows that literacy level is high in Kerala compared to other states.

Kerala is known as “God’s Own Country” and “Home Land of Spices”.

It’s remarkable achievements in health care were to a large extent

based on its vast network of public health institutions. This enables

Kerala to earn the fame of Kerala model of Health worth emulating

even by advanced countries. It is also famous for Ayurvedic treatment

(http://www.prokerala.com/kerala/basic-information). Hence there are many

hospitals particularly in Thrissur and Palakkad districts. They have installed

Institutional Biogas Plants to meet the energy requirements as more people

come from different parts of India for treatment.

Realizing the importance of energy crisis and the need for disposing

night soil and garbage in a most scientific way several voluntary agencies

have been involved in converting waste to energy particularly in large scale

establishments through Institutional Biogas Plants. The Nirmal Biogen

Technology, a well-known voluntary organization had done commendable

work by installing around 124 Institutional Biogas Plants in Tamil Nadu and

Kerala.

The selected districts both in Tamil Nadu and Kerala for the

Institutional Biogas Plant survey is shown in Figure 2 and 3.

67

Figure 2: Map of Tamil Nadu Showing Surveyed Distri cts

68

Figure 3: Map of Kerala Showing Surveyed Districts

69

2. Selection of Institutions

In Tamil Nadu 40 institutions and in Kerala 10 institutions were

selected based on purposive sampling method. According to Gupta (2009),

purposive sampling is a technique in which a desire number of sample units is

selected deliberately or purposively depending upon the object of enquiry.

The co-operation extended by the authorities, nearness to the home town,

earlier rapport established with the institutions, ease of approach, availability

of transport and the willingness of the higher authorities to give the necessary

data were the reasons for considering these institutions for data collection.

Table 4 and Plate 3 present the nature of the institutions surveyed for

the study.

Table 4: Nature and Number of the Institutions Surv eyed for the Study

Locale of the study

Number of Institutions Total Educational

Institutions Industries Hospitals Religious centre

Tamil Nadu/ Districts Erode Tirupur Coimbatore Namakkal Dindigul Salem Chennai Ramnad Trichy

9 2 2 5 – 3 4 1 1

2 3 6 – 2 – – – –

– – – – – – – – –

– – – – – – – – –

11 5 8 5 2 3 4 1 1

Kerala / Districts Palghat Thrissur

– 1

– 1

1 6

– 1

1 9

Total 28 14 7 1 50

All the above mentioned institutions are having either attached hostel

or canteen to cater to the needs of their inmates and have installed biogas

plants based on night soil, garbage and leftover foods as feed stock materials.

Table 5a and 5b present the list of the selected institutions for the study.

70

Plate 3

71

Table 5a: Selected Institutions for the Study – Tam il Nadu

S.No Name of the Institution Place

Educational Institutions

1 Maharaja Co-Ed Arts & Science College Perundurai, Erode 2 Kongu Polytechnic College Perundurai, Erode 3 Kongu Engineering College Perundurai, Erode 4 Kongu Arts & Science college Nanjanapuram, Erode 5 Kongu National Matriculation School Nanjanapuram, Erode 6 Kongu Arts & Science College Nanjanapuram, Erode 7 Sengundhar Engineering College Thudupathi, Erode 8 Ideal School Anthiyur 9 Bannari Amman College Sathyamangalam

10 Maharaja Engineering College Avinashi 11 Sainik Higher Secondary School Udumalpet 12 Sri Narayana Guru College Coimbatore 13 Guruvayurappan College Coimbatore 14 Vivekanandha Engineering College Thiruchengode, Namakal 15 Vidya Vikas Higher Secondary School Thiruchengode, Namakal 16 Bharath Polytechnic College Namakkal 17 Pavai Engineering College Rasipuram 18 S.S.V. Higher Secondary School Rasipuram 19 St.Mary’s Hr.Sec.School A.N.Mangalam, Salem 20 Monfort school Yerkadu 21 Nirmala Higher Secondary School Mettur 22 Sri Ram Engineering College Perumalpet Chennai 23 Jeppiar College Sholinganallur, Chennai 24 Indian Institute of Technology Chennai 25 SRM University Chennai 26 Thassim beevi women’s college Keelakarai Ramnad 27 Jamal Mohammed college Trichy

Industries

28 KPR Mill Sathyamangalam, Erode 29 Rohini spinning Mill Sathyamangalam 30 SP Apparels Avinashi 31 Poppy’s Knitwear Tirupur 32 Premier Mill Chengapalli 33 KPR Spinning Mill Karumathampatti, Coimbatore 34 KPR Spinning Mill Arasur, Coimbatore 35 KPR Avanitha Mill Kaniyur, Coimbatore 36 KPR Mill Neelambur, Coimbatore 37 Sangeetha Spinning Mill Annur, Coimbatore 38 Sivasakthi Mill Saravanampatti, Coimbatore 39 Mani Mill Vedachandur, Dindigul 40 Prabhu Spinning Mill Dindigul

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Table 5b: Selected Institutions for the Study – Ker ala

S.No Name of the Institution Place

Educational Institution

1 Little flower Convent Thrissur

Industry

2 Yamuna Flour Mills Pvt Ltd Thrissur

Hospitals

3 Amala Ayurvedic Hospital Thrissur

4 Amala Cancer Center Thrissur

5 Jubilee Mission Hospital Thrissur

6 Janatha Hospital Vadakara

7 Mother Hospital Thrissur

8 West Fort Hospital Thrissur

9 District Hospital Palakkad

Religious Centre

10 Divine Retreat Centre Thrissur

3. Selection of Research methods and Tools of Enqui ry

Interview cum observation method was adopted for collection of data

as this technique is considered as a two way method which permits exchange

of ideas and information. Interview is a unique method in that it involves the

collection of data through direct verbal interaction between the interviewee

and interviewer (Thanulingam, 2000). This method enables the investigator to

gather the relevant information from the employers of the institutions.

The advantages are as follows:

• The information obtained by this method is likely to be more accurate

because the investigator can clear up doubts raised by the personnel

• It is more encouraging as most people are willing to supply the

information when approached personally

• It is possible to collect supplementary information about the important

parameters and the environment; language of communication can be

adopted according to the status and educational level of person

interviewed

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Moreover this method was chosen for collecting the data because of its

convenience, comprehensiveness and possibility of obtaining genuine

information (Trochin and William, 2005). Furthermore, the nature of the study

demands a personal interview with concerned persons.

Complementing the survey technique, the observation technique is

used to gain more information about the study. The observation method

implies the collection of information by way of observing, without interviewing

and is not complicated by either the past behaviour or future inventions or

attitudes of the respondents. As remarked by Saravanavel (2007) observation

method is subjected to check and control with respect to validity, reliability and

precision. Observation is a careful and systematic watching of facts as they

occur in the course of nature. It is a selective, purposive, meaningful and an

efficient method of getting information. This technique is very useful in the

extensive enquiries and generally yields fairly dependable and reliable results

due to the fact that the information is recorded by highly trained and educated

enumerators (Veerajan, 2006).

4. Formulation of Tool

To enable the investigator to collect relevant data pertaining to the

study in a coherent manner, an interview schedule was prepared. According

to Kothari (2005), a schedule is the name given to list of questions to which

responses are obtained from the respondent by the investigator in a face to

face contact. It is the name usually applied to a set of questions which are to

be filled by the researcher after getting information from the informants

(Sharma and Jain, 2004).

The schedule has been structured to contain both closed and open

ended questions. It was designed to collect quantitative information in the light

of observations and experiences during the exploratory study. The schedule

thus prepared covers:

• Pre requisites considered for installing the Institutional Biogas Plant

• Design of the plant

• Details of construction and labourers involved

• Details of operation

74

• Quantum of fuel saved after installation of biogas.

• Problems occurred in the use of gas plant.

• Prospects gained in using Institutional Biogas Plants.

• Suggestion for future owners.

The schedule was scrutinized by Engineers, Home scientists and Field

investigator to check the ambiguity and content validity. Based on their

suggestions the schedule was modified to gather relevant information.

Thus, this tool was formulated covering all the aspects to get complete details

about the Institutional Biogas Plants installed at various institutions in

Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Annexure 1 present the schedule used for data

collection.

5. Collection of Data

At the first instance the investigator contacted the authorities of the

institution through telephonic conversation and electronic media seeking their

willingness to furnish the data regarding the

Institutional Biogas Plant installed in their

institutions. After getting their concurrence

she fixed up an appointment with them and

visited the institution at a specified date and

time. The investigator went to meet the

respondents with the interview schedule.

The questions were asked in order and the responses were recorded in the

allotted spaces in the same proforma.

The person in-charge of the

Institutional Biogas Plant answered the

queries put forth by the investigator.

Necessary evidences in the form of

photographs were also collected. The

investigator observed the site of the biogas

plant, the mixing tank, generation of organic

wastes, the use of biogas in the kitchen and

the spent slurry for enriching the garden.

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6. Analysis and interpretation of data

The collected data are consolidated, tabulated and presented with

appropriate plates and figures and presented in the subsequent chapter along

with statistical interpretations.

B. Comprehensive Study of an Institutional Biogas P lant

A comprehensive study has been planned to review an Institutional

Biogas Plant located in an educational complex to assess the various

parameters of the unit. It comprises of the following steps:

1. Selection of Institution

2. Gathering information regarding Institutional Biogas Plant.

1. Selection of Institution

Maharaja Co-Education Arts and

Science College is a pioneering

educational institution in Erode district

and has strength of 1500 students and

73 faculty members. The institution is a

unique educational centre of higher

learning in that area catering to the all-

round development of the students and fosters the well-being of the families,

communities and nation. This Institution was chosen because it owns an IBP

and has been running it successfully for a decade. The willingness expressed

by the authorities to furnish the data, the maintenance of the previous records,

easy approach to the construction agency and conducive atmosphere were

the associated factors. Moreover the investigator is employed and has

10 years of service make it easy and convenient for her to collect reliable,

quantitative and qualitative data related to the field.

2. Gathering information regarding Institutional Bi ogas Plant.

A thorough study has been planned and executed to get holistic

information regarding the Institutional Biogas Plant. Interviews and discussion

with authorities, agency involved in construction and personnel appointed for

the operation and maintenance was thought off to gather the data.

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• Interview with Administrative Officer

An informal interview with the Administrative Officer on the appointed

data gave the relevant information. The aspects gathered are as follows:

Planning

Conceptualization of idea

Analysis of pre-requisites

Involvement of appropriate agency

Capital outlay

Execution

Site selection

Design

Procurement of material

Appointing labourers

Constructing the IBP

Modus of operandi

Prospects gained

Evaluation

Problems faced at various stages of operation

Suggestions for future owners

The records maintained and the photographs taken during that time

substantiate the data.

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• Agency involved in the construction

Nirmal Biogen Technology, the pioneer in designing, engineering and

commissioning of the biogas plants based on night soil, garbage and left over

food and other organic wastes is the agency involved in the construction.

Hence the investigator approached Thiru.V.R.Rajendran, Managing Director

of Nirmal Biogen Technology, Kerala and enquired about the IBP constructed

in the Educational Campus chosen for the study. A day long interview with the

Engineer brings forth the technical data, structural parameter, specialization of

materials, techniques advocated in construction and operational procedure.

• Interviewing with Personnels

The mode of collecting waste, the approximate quantum of waste, the

problems faced in collection and the precautionary measures taken have

been collected from the person in-charge of this task. The details of use of

methane gas in the kitchen and the advantages of using this fuel over the

other fuels were gathered from Kitchen personnel. The details are presented

in the subsequent chapter.

C. Quantifying the Organic Waste in the Institution

Recycling is an increasingly important alternative to dumping which can

serve to reduce the amount of waste accumulation and also allow the reuse of

materials and decreases the drain on our shrinking resources. At the time of

the energy crisis, it is ironical to note that a large quantum of energy is

allowed to go unutilized in the form of wastes which result from the human

activities of production and consumption.

Adequacy of the feedstock material was considered as an essential

requirement for constant and continuous functioning of any biogas plant.

In order to ensure availability of the organic waste (the feedstock material for

the Institutional Biogas Plant), an investigation was carried out to assess

the generation of organic waste.

The different kinds of waste produced in the educational institution

attached with hostel are paper, cardboard, cartons, stationery items,

e-wastes, plastics, rags, cloth, dried leaves and flowers, vegetable and fruit

78

peels, left over foods, night soil etc. The waste generated in the institutions

has been categorized into biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes.

The wastes such as garbage, left over foods, night soil which are purely

organic in nature are easily degradable. Institutional Biogas Plant is an

appropriate technology to treat biodegradable wastes such as garbage, left

over foods, night soil and to solve the problem of overflow or leakage of septic

tank causing severe environmental problems. Hence these materials have

been identified as feed stock materials for the Institutional Biogas Plant.

Garbage and Left over foods : Garbage refers to the wasted or rejected food

constituents which have been produced during the preparation of cooking or

storage of meat, fruits and vegetables. Many authors emphasize that garbage

is a vital resource which is combustible though it is seldom uniform enough to

yield a steady flow of heat. Several scientists observe that garbage if digested

with cow dung or night soil in closed pits would yield biogas for fuel and good

manure for agriculture.

Based on the literature study, certain waste materials such as coconut

shells, onion and banana peels are detrimental to the gas production as they

are not easily degradable and may cause blockage problem. The kitchen

personnel were instructed accordingly to segregate the garbage and left over

foods. They are asked to collect the garbage in the closed plastic container

placed for this purpose. Similarly another plastic container was placed near

the washing area for the collection of left over foods.

The feeding time for the gas plant was fixed between 10.00a.m. and

11.00 a.m. every day. A daily record was maintained by the person in-charge

to quantify the garbage and left over foods indicating the date and quantum of

waste and checked by the investigator before feeding into the inlet of the

plant. The garbage and left over foods were weighed separately using

weighing scale. The weighing scale used for quantifying wastes measures

upto capacity of 300 kg (Plate IV).

Night soil: The educational institutions with boarding facility are spending

spend huge amount for constructing septic tanks for disposing night soil.

They find it difficult to get man power in clearing it. As night soil is readily

79

Plate IV

80

biodegradable in nature, the alternative way of disposing it is to use as a

feed stock material for Institutional Biogas Plant. In this process the septic

tanks of the institutions were directly connected to the digester of the biogas

plant where the other organic wastes such as garbage and left over foods

flows from the inlet tank get mixed and produce biogas due to anaerobic

fermentation.

Though sporadically night soil is used for generating gas, intensive use

of night soil in large institutions are not given due consideration as feed

stock material for generation of biogas. This may be due to cultural and

psychological factors. But now-a-days educational institutions are installing

this type of plant as they are aware of available of plenty of resource recovery

from night soil based biogas plant besides saving fuel, gives organic manure

which is rich in methane, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content.

Figure 4 shows the process of digestion that has been undergoing in

anaerobic digestion process.

Figure 4: Resource recovery from organic wastes

Garbage and left over foods

Organic wastes

Septic tank Anaerobic digester (Biogas Plant)

Biogas Exhausted slurry

Cooking Electricity generation

Aerobic composting

Directly applied to garden

Manure

Institution toilets

81

D. Assessing the Resource Recovery in terms of Fuel Energy, Cost,

Manurial value and Environmental Benefits

Resources are defined as those materials and human attributes that

satisfy our wants. They vary for individuals, communities, states and nations.

They are the enablers to achieve the goal. There are various classifications of

resources. The most common are human and material resources. The energy

and money are the major material resources used.

The limits of money are easily measured quantitatively compared to

any other resources. The amount of this resource varies from individual to

individual and the demand for this resource varies from situation to situation

and from time to time. Money differs from other resources. It is limited and at

the same time through the investment of human resources, one can procure

more of this resource. Increasing satisfaction in the use of resources include

the understanding of the interrelatedness along with the possibilities of

alternate use, reducing the utility and increasing the supply of resources.

The resource recovery through the installation of Institutional Biogas

Plants is discussed under the following headings:

1. Recovery of fuel energy

2. Recovery of organic manure (Farm yard manure)

3. Economic viability of Biogas Technology

4. Environmental benefits

1. Recovery of fuel energy

The educational institution has a clean and hygienic hostel which offers

boarding facility for nearly 1200 students. In the hostel breakfast, lunch,

evening snacks and dinner were prepared according to the strength

of the inmates. Enormous quantum of fossil fuels in the form of

Liquefied Petroleum Gas has been utilized before the installation of

Institutional Biogas Plant. High cost, sudden hike in prices and non-availability

of LPG in the required time were the reasons for switching over to biogas, as

stated by the authorities. So the recovery of fuel energy forms the major crux

82

of this part of the study. The fuel energy recovered was estimated through the

Recall method and scientific experiment.

The previous record maintained by the institution revealed the quantum

of LPG used for preparing the items before the installation of IBP. After the

introduction of biogas as fuel for preparing the items, it was understood from

the mess personnel a considerable number of commercial LPG cylinders

were saved every month.

In order to quantify with empirical evidence a scientific study has been

planned and carried out. A Gas flow meter, known as Rotameter was used to

quantify the biogas required to prepare a day’s menu. This experiment was

conducted for a period of one month to quantify the flow of gas.

Description of the Gas flow meter

The Gas flow meter (Rotameter) is a device that regulates and

measures the flow of gas by speed of flow according to their viscosity and

density. It is working based on the variable area principle. The variable area

principle consists of three basic elements: A uniformly tapered flow tube, a

float and a measurement scale. The rotameter is positioned vertically in the

gas pipeline with the smallest diameter end of the tapered flow tube at the

bottom. This is the gas inlet. The float is located inside the flow tube and is

engineered so that its diameter is nearly identical to the flow tube’s inlet

diameter. When gas is introduced into the tube, the float is lifted from its initial

position at the inlet, allowing the gas to pass between it and the tube wall.

As the float rises, more and more gas flows by the float because the tapered

tube’s diameter is increasing. Ultimately, a point is reached where the flow

area is large enough to allow the entire volume of the gas to flow past the

float. The float is now stationary at that level within the tube as its weight is

being supported by the fluid forces which caused it to rise. This position

corresponds to a point on the tube’s measurement scale and provides an

indication of the gas flow rate. This experiment was involved in the cooking

operation for preparing breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner to assess the flow of

biogas for cooking (Plate V)..

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Plate 5

84

The Gas flow meter was set right inside the kitchen connecting one of the

ends with the gas flowing pipe line and the other end to the burner. It was

fixed in the wall adjacent to the steam boiler. A whole day menu including

breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner was prepared for the total number of 1200

inmates in the hostel. Since the meal preparation needs to be continued

starting from 5.00a.m to 7.00p.m, the reading was noted for every hour.

The time taken for preparing each meal of the day was recorded

The required amount of gas for cooking was ascertained by correlating

the above readings. The biogas requirement for cooking a day’s menu for the

inmates in the hostel was calculated. Annexure II gives the sample menu of

the hostel. It shows the generation of considerable quantum of garbage.

The data obtained for a period of one month will indicate the replacement of

Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

2. Recovery of organic manure (Farm yard manure)

Manure is a source of minor and major nutrients, carriers, promoter of

beneficial organisms and source of growth promoting substances. Manure is

the substance when applied to the soil has the power of increasing its fertility

either directly or indirectly. Several scientists point out that a number of

substances are required by plants for successful growth, the most essential

items being Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus (NPK). All the plants need

nitrogen for the development of their leaves and shoots, phosphates for the

development of roots and seeds and potassium for the development of fruits

and tubers.

One of the major resources that could be recovered through the

installation of IBP is the organic manure. According to the Department of

Agriculture Mysore, organic manure is referred to as Farm Yard Manure,

Compost and Green manure. Of the organic manure the farm yard manure is

the commonly used manure. It is defined as the mixture of the excreta of the

domestic animals and straw or other litter used in yards. The digested slurry is

a by-product obtained from the biogas plant as a result of fermentation of

night soil and other organic wastes after production of methane gas.

The slurry coming out of biogas plant is referred to as Biogas Spent Slurry.

85

The slurry which comes out the biogas plant constitutes good quality

manure, free from weed seeds, foul smell and pathogens. It contains a full

range of plant nutrients (i.e. N2, P2O5, K2O). It has been observed that the use

of digested slurry as a manure improves soil fertility and increases crop field

by 10-20 per cent. In order to assess manurial value of slurry obtained from

the Institutional Biogas Plant, the sample was collected and tested in the

Environmental Science laboratory of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,

Coimbatore to find out the Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium content.

Table 6 presents the nutrient content of Biogas Spent Slurry and other

Organic Manures.

Table 6: Nutrient Content of Biogas Spent Slurry an d other

Organic Manures

Manure Nitrogen (N2O)

Phosphorus (P2O5)

Potassium (K2O)

Farmyard manure*

Compost*

Biogas spent slurry**

0.4 – 1.5

0.5 – 1.5

0.18

0.3 – 0.9

0.3 – 0.9

0.58

0.3 – 0.9

0.8 – 1.2

0.85

* Source from Khandelvel and Rajamani (2010); ** Test result from TNAU-Environmental Science Laboratory

From the above table, it is inferred that the percentage of manure

obtained from farm yard manure and compost is more or less same as the

manure obtained from Biogas Spent Slurry. The Educational Institution has

3.5 acres of vacant land where coconut and mango trees are planted and

nurtured. Before the installation of the IBP the authorities purchased a large

quantity of organic manure by spending a lot of money to raise the trees.

Realising the nutrient content they used only Biogas Spent Slurry as manure

after installation of IBP.

The money recovered by using the digested slurry in the place of

farm yard manure was calculated and presented in the next chapter.

3. Economic viability of biogas technology

The educational institution had invested a huge sum of money in the

construction of IBP. This investment paves the way for green energy, rich

86

manure and several other environmental benefits. The recovery of cost

computed show the relevance of this technology.

The key to the economic viability of Biogas Technology is maximizing

the use of all its output apart from the energy content of the gas, the sanitation

effect and use of the technology as a means of waste disposal and pollution

abatement which in addition also provides economic benefit.

The economic viability of biogas plant can be assessed using financial

analysis. It is based on market prices, including taxes and subsidies and

usually identifies the profit accruing to the project. Based on the literature, the

financial viability of biogas plants depends strongly on whether the gas and

slurry outputs can substitute for fuels, fertilizers or feeds that were previously

purchased for money. If so then the resulting cash savings can be used to

repay the capital and maintenance costs and the plant has a good chance of

financial viability. With this backdrop, the economic viability of biogas

technology was calculated.

4. Environmental benefits: Environmental benefits accrued by installation of

this plant were calculated by assessing the BOD and COD level. The effluent

water left as such leads to high Biochemical Oxygen Demand and Chemical

Oxygen Demand. The organisms present in the waste water consume oxygen

and creates shortage of oxygen. The effluent water when mixed in the water

stream spoils the entire ecosystem and environment. So the alternate solution

is to treat the water in anaerobic digester to decrease the level of BOD and

COD.

The Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a way of expressing the

amount of organic compounds in waste water as measured by the volume of

oxygen required by bacteria to metabolize it under aerobic conditions.

The BOD of a water sample is generally measured by incubating the sample

at 200C for five days in the dark under aerobic conditions. The Chemical

Oxygen Demand (COD) is the standard method for indirect measurement of

the amount of pollution (that cannot be oxidized biologically) in a sample of

water. The Chemical Oxygen Demand test procedure is based on the

chemical decomposition of organic and inorganic contaminants, dissolved or

suspended in water. The result of COD test indicates the amount of water-

87

dissolved oxygen (expressed as parts per million or milligrams per liter of

water) consumed by the contaminants, during two hours of decomposition

from a solution of boiling potassium dichromate. The higher the Chemical

Oxygen Demand, the higher the amount of pollution in the test sample

(www.wasteresearch.co.uk/ade/efw/anaerobic). To assess the environmental

benefits of IBP the inlet and outlet effluent water of the biogas plant was

collected in two different containers and tested in the Chemical Engineering

Laboratory of Kongu Engineering College to find out the toxicity levels of

BOD and COD before and after treatment in the biogas plant. The results are

discussed in the subsequent chapter.

E. Evaluating the Impact of Community Biogas Plant amo ng Women

Beneficiaries

Traditional sources of energy still dominate the domestic sector in rural

India. They depend upon firewood usage in inefficient stoves, leading to

dangerous level of Indoor air pollution, drudgery in collecting and storing to

meet their energy needs. The Bannari Amman Rural Foundation is a

registered non-profit charitable trust under the aegis of Bannari Amman group

of companies. As a part of the Rural Reconstruction Programme they installed

two Night soil based Community Biogas Plants with the objective of

encouraging enhanced energy supply to rural households as well as to

restore clean surroundings in the rural areas.

Description of Community Biogas Plant

The Community Biogas Plant comprises of a digester made of bricks

and cement mortar, gas holder, mixing tank, outlet and compost pits of

adequate size to ferment organic waste such as night soil, garbage and

left over foods in an efficient manner. The design of the gas plant is same as

Institutional Biogas Plant (Figure 5). Wastes from the sanitary complexes of

the villages were directly connected to digester during the construction of the

gas plant. Garbage and left over foods generated in the community kitchen

and rural households were collected by a person in-charge of the

maintenance of the plant and allowed to pass through the mixing tank of the

gas plant. Since there is no air in the digester the organic wastes such as

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Figure 5

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night soil, garbage and left over foods ferment and produce biogas. The gas

collected in the gas storage dome flows out from the plant through a pipeline

up to the point of its use i.e. to the community kitchen located at a distance of

60 meters from the biogas plant.

Table 7 brings forth the details of Community Biogas Plant.

Table 7: Details of Community Biogas Plant

Particulars Community Biogas Plants

Komarapalayam Kolinjanur

Capacity (cu.m)

Year of construction

Area

Total area (sq.m)

Fixed Dome Digester

Sanitary Complex Men

Sanitary Complex Women

Community Kitchen

Garden yard

25

2010

422.95

20.90

69.68

69.68

39.72

222.97

25

2011

269.97

20.90

60.20

60.20

17.19

111.48

Capital Investment ( ` ` ` ` in lakhs)

Community Biogas Plant

Sanitary Complex

Community Kitchen

Total Cost

6.5

4.5 (3.25)*

2

13

7

7.50 (4.79)*

1.5*

16.0

Feedstock (kg/day)

Night soil (Approx.)

Garbage

Left over foods

Biogas stove (Nos.)

Large Biogas Stove (Nos.)

240

15

35

14 (0.092sq.m)

–

259

12

15

14 (0.092sq.m)

2

* Amount sanctioned by the Government as a part of Rural Reconstruction Programme

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The installation of Community Biogas Plant is a novel venture

introduced into these households with a major aim of providing smoke free

energy to remove indoor air pollution, removing the drudgery associated with

the collection, purchase and storage of firewood and use them in the

inefficient traditional chulah and maintaining the interior and exterior

environment clean. At this juncture it becomes imperative to take up an

evaluatory study to know the resultant change among the rural households.

Evaluation may be described as a process of collecting evidences

about the outcomes of a programme and interpreting them to find out whether

the goals/objectives set prior to the implementation of the programme have

been achieved or not (WHO, 2005).

The evaluation process model used in this study is presented in

Figure 6.

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Figure 6: Evaluation Process Model for Resource Rec overy

Technical and Financial Support

Nirmal Biogen Technology

Bannari Amman Rural Foundation

Appropriate Technology

Co-ordination, Infrastructure Development, Financial Resources

Komarapalayam village (N:150)

Kolinjanur village (N:162)

Evaluatory Process

Need for Evaluation (Why evaluate?)

• Success rate of technology

• Extent of participation of women

• Efficiency of the projects

• Impediments / Barriers

Issues for Evaluation (What to evaluate?)

• Socio-economic profile

• Fuel management practices

• Problems with conventional fuels

• Resource recovery • Attitude of women

Methods of evaluation (How to evaluate?)

Examine the resultant change • Social and economic impact • Health and sanitation • Environmental hygiene • Drudgery reduction • Empowerment of women

Qualitative • Informal talk • Group

discussion • Direct

observation • Interview with

schedule • Participatory

approach

Quantitative • Fuel energy • Money

recovery • Time use • Indoor Air

Pollution

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The steps adopted for this evaluation are as follows:

1. Selecting the villages

2. Selecting the respondents and methods of evaluation

3. Preparing the research tool

4. Conducting the study

5. Consolidating and analyzing the data

1. Selecting the villages

Komarapalayam and Kolinjanur (AD Colony) villages of

Sathyamangalam Taluk in Erode district has been chosen for this phase of

the study.

The following criteria were considered for selection of villages.

• These villages are located at the distance of 3kms from the block head

quarters and 2km from the Bannari Amman Rural Foundation.

• Easy accessibility through proper road connectivity

• Availability of Energy efficient technology - Community Biogas Plant.

• Acceptance of the households to use night soil as feed stock material

from the sanitary complexes.

• Awareness on the danger of open defecation on health. As per Singh

and Prasad (2010) about 50 per cent of the rural population still

practice open defecation that affected their health.

• Positive attitude of the community of having energy efficient

intervention.

The presence and successful running of the Community Biogas Plant

in this region is the major reason for this consideration. All the 312

households spread in the villages were surveyed. Figure 7 and Plate 6 shows

the location of the selected villages.

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Figure 7: Location of the Selected Villages

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Plate 6

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2. Selecting the respondents and methods of evaluat ion

Table 8 gives the method of selection of the respondents to gather

information regarding fuel management practices, mode of cooking and usage

of Community Biogas Plant.

Table 8: Selection of Respondents

Data Number Sampling procedure Method

Qualitative method

Fuel management

practices

Quantitative method

Resource recovery

Indoor Air Pollution

312

62

40

Probability

sampling method

Purposive

sampling method

Purposive

random sampling

Interview

Interview cum

observation

Experimental study

The qualitative and quantitative methods of evaluation have been used

to gather the data.

Qualitative method

Indepth open-ended interviews, direct observation of behaviours and

interactions and participatory methods have been adhered to collect

qualitative data. Qualitative methods help to understand the perspectives of

individuals / communities on the need and impact of interventions. These can

provide important contextual data to explain the results of quantitative

analysis (Sharma, 2007).

Quantitative method

Quantitative approach was used for measurable aspects such as time

use, expenditure on fuel, recovery of money. The quantum of the major

resources fuel energy and money recovered by the homemakers using biogas

instead of traditional fuel were studied.

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Indoor Air Pollution

Indoor Air Pollution in rural areas in developing countries where

biomass is the principal fuel source has now been recognized as a serious

and widespread health problem. It is estimated that about half of the world’s

households cook daily with biomass fuels. Most of this cooking is done using

unvented stoves, with women, infants and young children experiencing

the highest exposures of indoor air pollution (Pandey, 2003; Singh and

Prasad, 2010).

The quick analysis in the 312 household surveyed indicated nearly

80 per cent of homemakers are still using the traditional chulah which emits

lot of smoke. In order to bring awareness to the

homemakers regarding the ill effects of the smoke

emission an experimental study was carried out. Out of

the 250 households, only 40 households were selected

based on purposive random sampling to measure the

concentration of CO using Carbon Monoxide Meter. The

study was conducted in the early morning 7a.m since most of the rural women

have to complete the cooking before they go for their work and in the late

evening 7p.m.

The pollutant emitted from the smoke emission of chulah was

estimated in terms of the amount of carbon monoxide present, using Carbon

Monoxide Meter (Plate VII). It was used to detect the presence of carbon

monoxide (CO) from traditional chulah and to measure the concentrations

between 1-1000 parts per million (ppm). The meter indicates the presence of

CO by a reading on the LCD and a beeper tone. The working mechanism of

the equipment is presented in Annexure III. The recorded data is presented in

the subsequent chapter.

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Plate 7

98

3. Preparing the research tool

The ‘Interview Method’ was used for gathering information owing to its

convenience, comprehensiveness and possibility of obtaining genuine

information. Gupta (2009) affirms that, “An interview schedule refers to a set

of statements or questions to be answered by the respondent in a face to face

situation and filled by the interviewer herself. An interview schedule was

prepared to elicit information regarding family background, type of fuel used,

fuel management practices adopted and their awareness on Community

Biogas Plant constructed and their mode of use of the biogas.

The framed schedule was scrutinized for its content, validity and

reliability through a pilot study. According to Pillai and Bagawathi, (2006) it is

a systematic and objective attempt to study a problem for the purpose of

deriving general principles. Thus, the pilot study helped the investigator to test

the reliability, validity and deficiencies of the tool to be used for data collection

and also to find out the potential problems likely to be found in the research

and determine whether or not a more substantial investigation of the

phenomenon is warranted. Based on the suggestions, the schedule was

modified and presented in Annexure IV.

4. Conducting the study

In order to draw genuine and authentic information from

the women, a good rapport was initially established through informal visits.

The study was conducted in three

phases. In the first phases all the

312 households were interviewed

during their leisure hours without

detrimental to their normal chores

to understand socio economic

profile, fuel management practices

the reasons for adopting or non-

adopting biogas as fuel. At the time of interview the investigator had an

opportunity to see the mode of cooking, the condition of kitchen, the type of

chulah, kind of fuel used and smoke emitted from their fireplace.

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Through this interview the researcher identified 62 homemakers who

are using the biogas regularly. As the second phase of the study an in-depth

interview was carried out by the investigator in the community kitchen to

collect relevant data.

In Kolinjanur village, an Anganwadi centre is functioning and they

prepare meals for the children using firewood as fuel. Now they use only the

biogas generated from the CBP. An interview with the Anganwadi worker to

find out the resource recovery was the third phase of the study (Plate 8).

5. Consolidating and analyzing the data

The data thus collected was consolidated and analysed to study the

impact of Community Biogas Plant among women beneficiaries.

SWOC Analysis: It is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the

strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges involved in a project or

in a business venture. It involves specifying the objective of the project or

business venture and identifying the internal and external factors that are

favourable and unfavourable to achieve that objective.

• Strengths: attributes of the organization those are helpful to achieve

the objective.

• Weaknesses: attributes of the organization those are harmful to achieve

the objective.

• Opportunities: external conditions those are helpful to achieve

the objective.

• Challenges: future plans and competition ahead to achieve the objective.

The aim of any SWOC analysis is to identify the key internal and

external factors that are important to achieve the objective. SWOC analysis

groups into two main categories.

• Internal factors : The strengths and weakness internal to the organization.

• External factors: The opportunities and challenges presented by the

external environment.

The SWOC Analysis of Institutional and Community Biogas Plants are

given in the subsequent chapter.