Intensification of Biogas Production by a Microbiological Method

Description

A Hungarian research institute offers a microbiological method to intensify the biogas production from various sources of biomass and organic waste using selected microorganisms. It increases the degradation rate of communal waste, wastewater sludge or manure and improves the efficiency of biogas production. It decreases the residence time of wastewater sludge or manure in the fermenter and cuts maintenance and running costs. The adverse environmental effects of communal waste or wastewater sludge, liquid manure and other forms of biomass and organic waste are also greatly reduced. Under anaerobic circumstances the organic compounds of waste and biomass decompose to organic acids and hydrogen. By the activity of methanogenic bacteria the hydrogen transforms to methane that can be exploited as a compound of biogas. The biogas can be used as energy source. In natural conditions the formation of methane is the slowest process in this cascade. The speed of this process determines the speed of the decomposition of waste, wastewater, manure or wastewater-sludge. The non-infectious, natural, facultative heterotrophic bacteria added into the treated material can increase the speed of hydrogen formation. The increased hydrogen formation allows an increased methane formation and results in a faster waste decomposition.

Area of Application

The method can be used to intensify the biogas production from waste in the fields of agriculture, wastewater treatment plants, animal breeding farms, facilities treating household solid waste, and food processing plants.

Advantages

According to the results of field experiments carried out with this method, the decomposition rate increased by 40% in the case of communal waste, 80-90% in the case of wastewater sludge, 250% in the case of pig liquid manure. The method can be used in any process, where the aim is to intensify the anaerobic decomposition of the organic compounds of waste and biomass. The method does not use any kind of chemical agent, so it is environmentally friendly, it does not cause any harm on environment.

For further information please contact

Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology
APCTT Building
C-2 Qutab Institutional Area
P.O.Box - 4575
New Delhi - 110 016
Tel : 91-11-26966509
Fax : 91-11-26856276