Production of Biogas (Renewable Energy) from Potato and Banana Peels

Dr. Muhammad Riaz Assistant Professor, Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology and his M. Phil and BS Chemistry research students produced biogas (renewable energy) from potato peels and banana peels using an anaerobic digester. Biogas is a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and moisture etc. Biogas was also purified by using different chemical scrubbers to remove these harmful gases before using.  The carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas which causes global warming. The purification of biogas by removal of carbon dioxide using ammonia is converted to liquid urea. This liquid urea is also another useful byproduct used to enhance plant growth.

Dr. Riaz and his research students also used an anaerobic digester’s byproduct as bio fertilizer in hydroponic technique for growing plants. The use of its byproduct in hydroponic technique as a biofertilizer provided an alternative to chemical fertilizers. The current research work falls in sustainable development goals (SDG) such as good health and well being (SGD # 3), affordable and clean energy (SDG # 7), climate action (SDG # 13).