Basics of Anaerobic Digestion
An Introduction to Anaerobic Digesters
An anaerobic digester is an air tight, oxygen-free container that is fed an organic material, such as 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.
Safety Note
Biogas production systems have many hazardous components and characteristics. No design or project is complete without a safety plan.
Benefits
Local
- Reduced odor, fly eggs, weed seeds in digested manure
- Revenues:
- On farm power production sales
- Tipping fees from other feed stocks (food wastes)
Regional
- Pathogen reduction of land applied nutrients
- Rural electric grid voltage support
Global
- Reduced methane emissions, a greenhouse gas
- Reduced dependency on foreign fossil fuels
Notes and Lessons Learned:
- Anaerobic digestion "Does Not Reduce Nutrients in Manure"
- If consdering to build an anaerobic digester, select an experienced "Farm Digester" consultant
Some helpful terminology used in anaerobic digestion.
