Fermentation has been exploited to improve agricultural waste products.Fermentation of Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) peels was carried out by soaking in clean water for 96 hours at room temperature during which samples were collected daily for microbial, physicochemical and proximate analysis. Microbial load of both peels ranged from 9.0 × 10 5 to 8.6 × 10 6 cfu/ml; 1.5 × 10 6 to 7.4 × 10 6 sfu/ml and 1.2 × 10 6 to 2.0 × 10 6 sfu/ml for bacteria, fungi and yeast respectively. The pH value of both peels decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with corresponding increase in the total titratable acidity (TTA) (P ≤ 0.05) and temperature (P ≥ 0.05) with time during fermentation. The percentage composition of moisture, ash, fat and protein content of both peels increased insignificantly (P ≥ 0. bc ± 2.55 respectively, until the last day of fermentation as compared with the unfermented peels at 0 hour. However, there was no significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) in the proximate composition of both peels. The results obtained from this study revealed that fermentation can bring about desirable changes in the nutrient composition of potato peels.
Production potential of cow dung for the generation of electricity was investigated using microbial fuel cell (MFC). Cow dung was collected from FUTA farm and Ilesha Garage farm in Akure. Voltage and current was measured per day for 21 days and the electrode used for the set up are carbon-carbon and carbon-aluminium electrode. Proximate, physico-chemical and mineral composition were determined using standard methods. Isolation and identification of microorganisms present in the cow dung were determined before and after generation of voltage and current using microbiological techniques. The microorganisms isolated were Providencia alcalifaciens, P. rettgeri, P. stuartti, Escherichia coli, E. fergusonii, Morganella morganii, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, S. aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Fusarium solani, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Mucor mucedo. The highest voltage 0.737±0 mV and electric current 1.265±0 mA were generated from FUTA cow dung. The pH ranged between 7.3 to 9.9 and the temperature ranged between 25 ˚C to 33 ˚C during generation of voltage and current. This study has shown that cow dung is a potential substrate for generation of electric current using fabricated double chamber MFC.
The potential for electricity generation from cow paunch was investigated using microbial fuel cell. The cow paunch was collected from two (2) abattoirs; BOD, COD, Total Solids, Total Volatile Solids, Total Organic Carbon, pH, temperature, and electrical conductivity were evaluated. Isolation and identification of microorganisms from the cow's paunch was done. Cow paunch was used as the substrate in the anode chamber while potassium ferricyanide was used in the cathode chamber as the electron acceptor. The current and voltage generated in the set up were monitored for 21 days using a digital multimeter. Results from this experiment revealed that the highest bacterial population of 5.11 × 108 cfu/g for aerobic bacteria and 3.09 × 108 cfu/g for anaerobic bacteria was observed in Topland cow paunch. Bola cow paunch had an aerobic bacteria population of 1.01 × 107 cfu/g and a 9.83 × 106 anaerobic bacteria population. There were spontaneous increases and decreases in the voltage and current readings during the experiment. The Topland cow paunch generated the highest voltage of 942mV on day 2 and a current of 4.63mA on day 1 of the experiment. The Bola cow paunch generated its highest electric voltage of 901mV on day 9 evening of the experiment, generating its highest current of 3.04mA on day 3 afternoon of the experiment. It is concluded from the findings of this research that cow paunch has a high potential to produce electric current and voltage due to the diversity of electogenic microorganisms in them, and concurrently reduce the harmful effect of direct disposal of cow paunch on the environment.
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