BioGas Production From Human Waste | Anaerobic Digestion | Anaerobic Fermentation | Methane Production | Methane Emission

An anaerobic digester is an air tight, oxygen-free container that is fed an organic material, such as Human Waste, animal manure or food scraps. A biological process occurs to this mixture to produce methane gas, commonly known as biogas, along with an odor-reduced effluent. Microbes break down manure into biogas and a nutrient-rich effluent.

Biogas fuel is a flammable substance that burns in a similar fashion to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and as such, biogas energy can be utilized as an alternative to fossil fuels. Biogas production is often achieved using a biogas plant, which is a system that "digests" organic matter to produce gas.

Four Steps of Biogas Production / Fermentation:

Step 1: Hydrolysis                                         Out put: Amino Acids and Fatty Acids

Step 2: Acidity Increase                                Output: Organic Acids and Carbon dioxide

Step 3: Acetic Acid Formation                     Output: Acetic Acid, CO2, Hydrogen

Step 4: Methane Formation                          Output: Methane, Co2, Water

BIODIESEL

What Is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oils and alcohols (Methanol / Ethanol / ISO-Propanol) utilizing a chemical process called Transesterification. The resulting Mono-Alkyl Esters have an acceptable viscosity and can be used interchangeably with petroleum diesel.

What Is Transesterification?

The major components of vegetable oils and animal fats are Triglycerides. To obtain biodiesel, the vegetable oil or animal fat is subjected to a chemical reaction termed transesterification.

In that reaction, the vegetable oil or animal fat is reacted in the presence of a catalyst with an Alcohol (usually methanol) to give the corresponding Alkyl Esters (or for methanol, the methyl esters) of the fatty acid mixture that is found in the parent vegetable oil or animal fat

Biodiesel Materials / Biodiesel Feedstock:

• Vegetable Oils
• Soybean
• Cotton seed
• Palm
• Peanut
• Rape Seed / Canola
• Sunflower
• Safflower
• Coconut
• Animal Fats
• Tallow
• Waste Oils
• Used Frying oils

Biodiesel Blends:

Biodiesel is often blended with petroleum diesel to produce a fuel that is compatible with diesel engines. Biodiesel blends reduce harmful emissions. Biodiesel blends will become more common as drivers are made aware of the many benefits.

B2 – 2% Biodiesel and 98% Diesel

B5 – 5% Biodiesel and 95% Diesel

B20 – 20% Biodiesel and 80% Diesel

Note: These blends with Petro diesel are not Biodiesel.

Advantages Of Biodiesel:

• Derivation from a renewable domestic resource, thus reducing dependence on and preserving petroleum
• Biodegradability
• Reduction of most exhaust emissions (Exception NO_x)
• Higher flash point leading to safer handling and storage
• Excellent lubricity

Disadvantages Of Biodiesel:

• Inherent higher price
• High expensive Feedstock’s
• Increased NO_x exhaust emissions due to reduced excise taxes