Experimentation of a better methanogenic potential by co-digestion of urban waste: Contribution to the challenges of sustainable development in the Sahel zone

It is clear that a high population density combined with the ecological fragility of the places where refugees settle are primary factors in the risk of environmental degradation. In the Sahel region, we can see a number of cases where refugees exploited the resources of their environment without worrying about their preservation; The study of existing documents provides some evidence of medium- and long-term ecological deterioration in areas affected by refugee movements. Changes in the vegetation cover of a host area are undoubtedly the most visible result of the presence of refugees, and this for several reasons.
First of all, as soon as they arrive in a new place, refugees need a large quantity of fuel and building materials and, in most of black Africa, this demand is most often met by local wood resources, thereby promoting the excessive cutting of trees and therefore the possibility of opening up a desert area over time. In order to provide a solution, we undertook to carry out tests on different types of urban waste in order to produce a good quality biogas which will be used for cooking food, but could also be used as alternative energy for electricity. After having carried out all the experiments, the best substrate considered is a co-digestion of fresh cow dung and poultry droppings. And secondly the combination of human waste mixed with poultry droppings and fresh cow dung. In third place we have human waste plus dry cow dung and poultry droppings. We have also studied case by case the structural composition of a digester. This work was carried out to contribute to the impact on the environment caused by displaced people in the Sahel zone in order to be able to contribute to the challenges of sustainable development in this area.