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hi My science fair project was making horse-manure based digesters with added contents of orange,papaya,and banana peels. I recorded the initial pH of the horse manure by it self and got 8. orange was 3, papaya 5, and banana 5. My orange peel with horse manure made more biogas. I'm thinking the pH of that digester was neutralized most, but I'm having trouble knowing exactly why it neutralized. If anyone can help explain or direct me to a website that would be great.
Thank You
pH Neutralization
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Re: pH Neutralization
Hi nicho397,
I'm not very familiar with this area but perhaps some other contributors to this forum can add some more specific comments.
My understanding of biogas production is that bacteria from the manure digest biomass and produce methane and other side products like ammonia and carbon dioxide. Dissolved ammonia and carbon dioxide act as a buffer. That means that the pH of the fermenting solution may not change very much when components of different pH are added.
Your orange peel pH was clearly lower than the papaya or banana. But adding orange peel to the fermenting solution may have had little effect due to the buffering. You'd need to measure the pH of the final mix to know how much the pH changed.
I hope this helps. Please post again if you have more questions.
A. Norman
I'm not very familiar with this area but perhaps some other contributors to this forum can add some more specific comments.
My understanding of biogas production is that bacteria from the manure digest biomass and produce methane and other side products like ammonia and carbon dioxide. Dissolved ammonia and carbon dioxide act as a buffer. That means that the pH of the fermenting solution may not change very much when components of different pH are added.
Your orange peel pH was clearly lower than the papaya or banana. But adding orange peel to the fermenting solution may have had little effect due to the buffering. You'd need to measure the pH of the final mix to know how much the pH changed.
I hope this helps. Please post again if you have more questions.
A. Norman