ABSTRACT

The research study was aimed at investigating microorganisms associated with biogas production

Using sewage and cassava peel, as substrates. Sewage was collected from Ibrahim Babanginda hostel in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia state while cassava peels were collected in Amawom, Umuahia, Abia state. Standard microbiological methods were used to isolate the organisms and anaerobic bio-digester was constructed to house the waste substrates for biogas production. Anaerobic bacteria isolated were identified as, Pseudomonas sp., Escherichia coli, Bacillus sp., Micrococcus sp., Proteus vulgaris, Citrobacter sp., Clostridium sp., Streptococcus bovis, Enterobacterium cloacae and Klebsiella sp., while fungi isolated were identified as Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Aspergillus sp., Rhizopus sp. Methanogenic bacteria isolated were identified as Methanococcoides methyilutens, Methanoculleus bourgense, M. hungatei, Methanobacterium formicicum, M. hungatei, M. voltaei from media using anaerobic chamber for isolation . Analysis from this research revealed that the temperature of cassava peels and sewage ranged between 26°C and 30°C while the pH varied between 4.00 and 6.80 during digestion. The volume of biogas produced during the course of this project was between 1.6 and 8.2 ml and values for dissolve oxygen decrease from 10.4 to 0.0 mg/l.  However, the study has shown that the role of Methanogens and other complementing bacteria and fungi in biogas production is indispensable.