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What is Anaerobic Digestion?

12.17.2014

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is a biological process that happens naturally when bacteria is used to break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Almost any organic material can be processed with Anaerobic Digestion including grass clippings, leftover food, industrial effluents, sewage and animal waste.

Anaerobic Digestion produces biogas which is typically made up of around 60% methane (CH4) and 40% Carbon Dioxide (CO2). This gas, or more specifically biogas, can be burnt to generate heat or electricity or can be used as fuel for vehicles.

Besides biogas, Anaerobic Digestion also produces a solid and liquid residue called digestate which can be used as a soil conditioner to fertilize land.

The amount of biogas and the quality of digestates obtained vary according to the feedstock used. More gas will be produced if the feedstock is putrescible (i.e. capable of decaying), which means it is more liable to decompose. Sewage and manure yield less biogas as the animal which produced the manure has already taken out some of the energy content.

TMC Fluid Systems supplies Biogas Compressors that are widely used for agitation of the contents of the digester. Biogas Compressors are typically used to recirculate the digestate by sucking the biogas at the top (or at the dome) of the digester and re-injecting it at the bottom of the digester.

 

News/Events 

  1. Waste No Waste: Time to Embrace Biogas
  2. Is Big Gas finally learning to love biogas?
  3. We need to get behind Renewable Natural Gas
  4. Difference between a Turbo and Positive Displacement Blower
  5. The Difference between Methane and Natural Gas
  6. First Dairy Biogas Project in Connecticut
  7. Does Renewable Natural Gas Have a Future in Energy?
  8. Biogas Offtake Opportunities For Digesters
  9. Wisconsin Dairy Begins Production of Renewable Natural Gas
  10. Anaerobic Digestion Sector Forming a Clearer Picture
  11. Brightmark to Expand Western New York Dairy Biogas Project
  12. Biogas - The Energy Wonder That's Under Our Noses
  13. Power Generation Achieved by a Self-Assembled Biofuel Cell
  14. Less Carbon Dioxide from Natural Gas
  15. Project Uses Renewable Electricity for RNG Production
  16. Smithfield Hog Farm Provides Natural Gas to Missouri City
  17. From Waste to Gas
  18. Gas Clash Threatens Australian Export
  19. Maximizing Opportunities of Anaerobic Digestion from Wastewater
  20. Catalyst to Speed up Conversion of Biomass to Biofuel
  21. How It Works: Ethanol
  22. Anaerobic Digestion - the Next Big Renewable Energy Source
  23. Anaerobic Additions
  24. Three (3) Tech Solutions for Modern Landfills
  25. The Costs and Benefits of Anaerobic Digesters
  26. Bacteria Farts Power Wastewater Plant in Fort Wayne
  27. Europe’s First Poultry Manure Biogas Plant
  28. Electricity Using Pig Manure
  29. $38-Million Biodigester coming to Grand Rapids
  30. Biochar Could Benefit Anaerobic Digestion of Animal Manure

For additonal reading, please visit us at: News Worthy

Difference between a Turbo and Positive Displacement Blower