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Benefits Of Biogas And Anaerobic Digestion

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Biogas and anaerobic digestion has been used for thousands of years as an energy source. Biogas and anaerobic digestion go as far back as the 10th century BC, when Assyrians used biogas to heat bath water (Meynell, n.d.). Most biogas comes from a process called anaerobic digestion. There are many types of anaerobic digestion and many benefits of anaerobic digestion (Articles, 2012). Anaerobic digestion started off with simple systems, but got a greater more complicated. Anaerobic digestion is not commonly known, but it uses a simple biologic process to create biogas, a renewable energy. The purpose of anaerobic digestion is to convert organic matter, like liquid or solid waste, into biogas. Its main definition is a biological process in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. The wastes that are used in this process ranges from manure, wastewater, food waste, fats, oils, and grease (American Biogas Council, n.d.). Anaerobic digestion starts with various kinds of bacteria converting and breaking down certain nutrients such as carbohydrates, sugars, amino acids, and organic acids (American Biogas Council, n.d.). After all of the conversions take place, the methanogens in the manure or waste convert the leftovers into methane and carbon dioxide (American Biogas Council, n.d.). When all of the methanogens are used, the biogas is then collected and stored in a tank for usage. Biogas can be converted into energy by burning biogas for heat in one’s house, using the methane to power an electric generator, and methane is also flared to reduce carbon footprint (Construct, 2008). There are many different kinds of bacteria that cause anaerobic digestion. Almost 70 percent of all bacteria found in the digestion process are encapsulated cocci and irregularly shaped bacteria that resemble fiber digesters (Akin, 1980). The encapsulated bacteria are much stronger and have a smaller chance of neutralization. The bacteria are both acidogenic, and acetogenic that break down the acids and sugars (American Biogas Council, n.d.). These kinds of bacteria will break down acids, sugars, and carbohydrates, but the bacteria will not produce methane (American Biogas Council, n.d.). Anaerobic

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