Management model for biogas production from wastewater of natural rubber processing at the community level

Abstract

This study aims to examine the factors affecting the management of biogas production from the wastewater produced by natural rubber processing at community level and to develop a management model. The methodologies consist of a literature review on the factors affecting biogas management and the sites studies based on structural interviews with three rubber sheet production cooperatives in Songkhla Province. The data are summarized to find the key factors and criteria. These factors and criteria were ranked using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to establish a management model. The initial model was then tested on six natural rubber processing companies including the Wangluang Cooperative Rubber Production, Wangkiri Cooperative Rubber Production, Baan Nong-Khla Cooperative Rubber Production, Wangcharearn Cooperative of Agriculture, Chiang Rai Rubber Center Co. Ltd., and the LaanNa Rubber Co. Ltd. As a result, five key factors were found including environmental factors, social factors, health impact factors, economic factors and technological factors, respectively. The results from the test model showed that there were 0.791 points for the two sites of successful biogas production that were considered to have good management in the biogas production plants. Meanwhile, 0.388-0.390 points showed a failure in biogas production. Moreover, 0.101 points were given to those companies for which details of biogas production were not be obtained. Practical guidelines for a management model for biogas production from the wastewater produced by natural rubber processing at the community level were developed as follows: 1) identifying the environmental problems, 2) building the social cooperation, 3) sanitation improvement, 4) economic analysis, and 5) considerations relating to biogas technology. The relevant authorities should evaluate biogas production from the wastewater produced by natural rubber processing using this model to avoid the failure of biogas production at other sites. In addition, the successful sites of biogas production from wastewater produced by natural rubber processing should provide training to the employees of biogas production companies to increase the potential of biogas production at new sites and to avoid failure at those sites.