Exploring biogas production from Nile perch (Lates niloticus) fish byproducts

Biogas, a renewable energy source, has the potential to reduce reliance on fossil fuels while addressing waste management issues. The current study explored biogas production from various parts of fish waste fractions including head, skin, offal, and skeleton, and their mixtures through anaerobic digestion. The biogas quantity and methane content were measured using the water displacement method. Results revealed the biogas yield in the 858.33-2381.67 mL range, with methane content ranging from 35 to 55%. The highest biogas yield of 2381.67 mL was obtained from a mixture of fish wastes, followed by 1390 mL from the head, 1110 mL from the skin, 895 mL from the offal, and 858.33 mL from the skeleton. The highest biogas quality of 55% CH4 was achieved from the head, followed by a mixture of fish wastes and skin, 49%, skeleton, 41%, and offal, 35% methane. The fish waste, head and skin gave a promising quantity of biogas with the recommended methane content of 45-75%. Further studies are suggested on the co-digestion of fish waste with other organic wastes, including seeding the fish waste with animal droppings.