Theoretical Analysis of Biogas Production from Septic Tanks: The Case of the City of Kinshasa

Abstract

As many think that respect for the environment, is not only a question intended for industrialists but has all the sectors of life, in particular sanitary also. In this regard, our article brings alternative management of human waste (excrement) to solve the problems that plague our dear beautiful capital, namely: 1) Lack of latrines that meet the standards; 2) Emptying of septic tanks directly into the gutters and; 3) Water pollution by sewage csompanies. In order to carry out the cartographic analysis of the study area, we used Shapefile data from the OpenStreetMap, Diva-Gis. These different data allowed us, analyzed, to categorize with the software ArArcGIS 0.8.1 to produce different zones according to the cases incurred in the city of Kinshasa. To do this, the analytical method uses the Buswell equation to determine the amount of gas contained in human excrement. Focusing on the analysis of the excrements produced by the population of age superior to 10 years, for 2023, we obtained: 138355.7283 m³/day of CH4 (885476.66 kWh/day or 885.476 MWh/day), which, energy can light: 138,355 lamps of 60 to 100 W for six hours or nearly 70,000 lamps of 60 to 100 W for 12 hours. Considering the last one which offers the lowest access rate, i.e. 3% of the district population to these latrines, we have: a) In Tshangu, we produce: 1618.762 <sup> 3</sup > /day (10360.07 kWh/day or 10.36 MWh/day) which can light nearly 1600 lamps from 60 to 100 W for six hours or nearly 800 lamps from 60 to 100 W for twelve hours. b) Mont-Amba, we produce 1402.927 <sup> 3</sup > /day (8978.73 kWh/day or 8.97 MWh/day) which can light nearly 1400 lamps from 60 to 100 W for six hours or nearly 700 lamps from 60 to 100 W for twelve hours; c) In Lukunga, we produce: 946.35 <sup> 3</sup > /day (6056.66 kWh/day or 6.056 MWh/day) which can light nearly 900 lamps from 60 to 100 W for six hours or nearly 450 lamps from 60 to 100 W for twelve hours. d) Funa, we produce: 182.629 <sup> 3</sup > /day (1168.83 kWh/day or 1.17 MWh/day) which can light almost 180 lamps from 60 to 100 W for six hours or almost 90 lamps from 60 to 100 W for twelve hours.