Development and Trial of a Cocoa Pod Compost Digester with Biogas by Products on a Household Scale

Ulfah Zakiyah Hamdani; Rosmalah Yanti; Rahman Hairuddin; Ibnu Mansyur Hamdani; Nurul Fuady Adhalia

Ulfah Zakiyah Hamdani UNCP Palopo
Rosmalah Yanti UNCP Palopo
Rahman Hairuddin UNCP Palopo
Ibnu Mansyur Hamdani UNCP Palopo
Nurul Fuady Adhalia UNCP Palopo

Keywords: digester, cocoa pod, liquid organic fertilizer, slurry compost, biogas

Abstract

This study was aimed to develop another digester model with output 2 products (compost and liquid organic fertilizer) and 1 by-product (biogas) that can be used on a household scale. The digester made from Parallon plastic with two tubes: the fermentation tube and the liquid fertilizer storage. The filter separates biogas with bad smell with water seal technology. The trial was conducted with finely chopped cocoa pod as starting material, aquadest, crystal sugar and EM4 as inoculum in the ratio 50 kg : 5 L : 2 kg : 1 L. After 32 days of fermentation, 50 kg starting material has been successfully converted into 12 L of liquid organic fertilizers, 30 kg of slurry and biogas. The fermentation process is still ongoing because biogas is still being formed continuously.