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The impact of biogas and fuelwood use on institutional kitchen air quality in Kampala, Uganda
Author(s) -
McCord A. I.,
Stefanos S. A.,
Tumwesige V.,
Lsoto D.,
Meding A. H.,
Adong A.,
Schauer J. J.,
Larson R. A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/ina.12390
Subject(s) - biogas , firewood , environmental science , renewable energy , waste management , hydrogen sulfide , air quality index , pulp and paper industry , environmental engineering , chemistry , engineering , sulfur , geography , electrical engineering , organic chemistry , meteorology
Experts have suggested that microscale biogas systems offer a source of renewable energy that improves indoor air quality, but such impacts have not been directly measured. This study documented cooking behaviors and measured 2.5‐μm particulate matter ( PM 2.5 ), carbon monoxide ( CO ), and sulfur dioxide ( SO 2 ) concentrations within 14 institutional kitchens in Kampala, Uganda, that prepare meals using biogas (n=5), a mixture of biogas and fuelwood (n=3), and fuelwood (n=6). Small institutions (10‐30 people) with biogas kitchens had 99% lower concentrations of PM 2.5 (21 μg/m 3 ) than fuelwood kitchens (3100 μg/m 3 ). Larger institutions (>100 people) had biogas systems that produced insufficient gas and relied on fuelwood to meet over 90% of their energy needs. PM 2.5 concentrations in these biogas‐firewood kitchens were equivalent to concentrations in fuelwood kitchens. Although concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) in biogas were as high as 2000 ppm, 75% of systems had undetectable H 2 S levels (<100 ppm) in the biogas. Kitchens using biogas with high H 2 S had correspondingly higher SO 2 concentrations in the kitchen air. However, even the highest SO 2 concentration in biogas kitchens (150 μg/m 3 ) was lower than SO 2 concentration in fuelwood kitchens (390 μg/m 3 ). The results suggest that biogas systems can offer air quality improvements if sized properly for energy demands.

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