 Biogas is mixture of methane and carbon

dioxide.
 It can produce global warming
 Methane in biogas can affect the ozone layer.
 Biogas is not poisonous. The only danger is
from explosion if it is mixed with air and lit
by fire.
 Biogas was used for heating bath water in Assyria
during the lOth century BC and in Persia during the
16th century. Jan Baptita Van Helmont first
determined in 17th century that flammable gases
could evolve from decaying organic matter. Count
Alessandro Volta concluded in 1776 that there was
a direct correlation between the amount of
decaying organic matter and the amount of
flammable gas produced. In 1808, Sir Humphrey
Davy determined that methane was present in the
gases produced during the AD of cattle manure.
 The first digestion plant was built at a leper colony
in Bombay, India in 1859. AD
Agricultural Feedstock
 Animal manure

 Energy crops

 Algal biomass

 Crop residues

Community-Based Feedstock
 Sewage sludge

 Grass clippings/garden waste

 Food remains

 Institutional wastes
 In general, hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in
which the breakdown of water occurs to form H+
cations and OH- anions. Hydrolysis is often used to
break down larger polymers, often in the presence
of an acidic catalyst.
 In anaerobic digestion, hydrolysis is the essential
first step, as Biomass is normally comprised of very
large organic polymers, which are otherwise
unusable. Through hydrolysis, these large
polymers, namely proteins, fats and carbohydrates,
are broken down into smaller molecules such as
amino acids, fatty acids, and simple sugars. The
majority of the molecules, which are still relatively
large, must be further broken down in the process
of acidogenesis so that they may be used to create
 Acidogenesis is the next step of anaerobic
digestion in which acidogenic microorganisms
further break down the Biomass products after
hydrolysis. These fermentative bacteria produce an
acidic environment in the digestive tank while
creating ammonia, H2, CO2, H2S, shorter volatile
fatty acids, carbonic acids, alcohols, as well as
trace amounts of other byproducts.
 While acidogenic bacteria further breaks down the
organic matter, it is still too large and unusable for
the ultimate goal of methane production, so the
biomass must next undergo the process of
acetogenesis.
 In general, acetogenesis is the creation of acetate,
a derivative of acetic acid, from carbon and energy
sources by acetogens. These microorganisms
catabolize many of the products created in
acidogenesis into acetic acid, CO2 and H2.
 Acetogens break down the Biomass to a point to
which Methanogens can utilize much of the
remaining material to create Methane as a Biofuel.
 Methanogenesis constitutes the final stage of anaerobic
digestion in which methanogens create methane from
the final products of acetogenesis as well as from some
of the intermediate products from hydrolysis and
acidogenesis. There are two general pathways involving
the use of acetic acid and carbon dioxide, the two main
products of the first three steps of anaerobic digestion,
to create methane in methanogenesis:
CO2 + 4 H2 → CH4 + 2H2O
CH3COOH → CH4 + CO2
 While CO2 can be converted into methane and water
through the reaction, the main mechanism to create
methane in methanogenesis is the path involving acetic
acid. This path creates methane and CO2, the two main
products of anaerobic digestion.
 Types of digesters
For clarity, we can divide digesters into three
categories
Passive Systems: Biogas recovery is added to an
existing treatment component.
Low Rate Systems: Manure flowing through the
digester is the main source of methane forming
microorganisms.
High Rate Systems: Methane forming microorganism
are trapped in the digester to increase efficiency.
Types of digesters

Passive Systems
• Covered Lagoon
Low Rate Systems
• Plug Flow
• Complete Mix
High Rate Systems
• Fixed Film
COVERED LAGOON

 Gas is collected under impermeable cover.

 Consists of two cells:one is covered and other is
uncovered
 Both cells are needed for the system to operate
efficiently.
 A lagoon provides storage, as well as treatment;
the liquid level on the second cell must rise and
fall to create storage, while the level on the first
cell remains constant to promote
manure breakdown.
COVERED LAGOON
Advantages
• Low cost (relative)
• Low tech/easy to construct
• Geo‐synthetic covers are
readily available
Disadvantages
• Cover maintenance/lifespan
• Solids/nutrient accumulation
 Seriously effected by environment changes
PLUG FLOW
 Manure flowing into the
digester displaces digester
volume, and an equal amount
of material flows out
and in.
 Manure moves through
the digester as a plug,
hence the name “plug flow”.
 Plug flow digesters do not require mechanical
mixing.
 Total solids content of manure should be at least
15%
so may need to add extra material to manure to
use a plug flow digester.
PLUG FLOW
Advantages
• Good track record for
dairy manure
• Works well with scrape
systems
Disadvantages
• Requires high‐solid feedstocks
(11‐14%)
COMPLETE MIX
 Manure is heated and mixed
In a tank.
 Incoming liquid displaces
volume in the digester, and an
equal amount of liquid flows out.
 Retention times can be shorter for
thermophyllic systems.
 The digester can be continuously mixed or
intermittently mixed.
 Microbe-rich slurry is recycled back to the
digester to decreases digestion time.
COMPLETE MIX
Advantages
• High level of experience
• Works with wide range of
influent total solids/moisture
• Fits well with most dairy
and food wastes
Disadvantages
• Maintenance of mechanical
mixing equipment
• Poor biomass immobilization
FIXED FILM
 In this digester, methane forming

microorganisms grow on supporting media such as

wood chips or small plastic rings that fill a
digestion column.
 The slimy growth coating on the media is called
a biofilm.
 Manure solids can plug the voids between the
supporting media so it should be in fine form.
 Or we can use separator to remove particles from
the manure before feeding it to the digester. But
some potential biogas is lost due to removing
manure solids.
FIXED FILM
Advantages
• Shorter retention time as
microbes retained in system
• Smaller footprint
Disadvantages
• Sensitive to solid load
a) Psychrophilic anaerobic digestion:

This type of anaerobic digestion is mainly

carried out that region where temperature is
low. Temperature ranges between 10-20 °C.
Under this temperature range, digestion is very
slow and time consuming. About 40-50 days
are required for biogas generation.
b) Mesophilic anaerobic digestion:
Temperature ranges for Mesophilic digestion
are between 25-40 °C. This type of digestion
takes 25-30 days for bio degradation.
Mesophilic digestion tends to be more sturdy
and tolerant than thermophilic anaerobic
digestion but biogas generation is less. In this
type of digestion, large digestion tanks are
required and a separate process is required for
disinfection.
c) Thermophilic anaerobic digestion:
 Thermophilic digestion occurs between 50-
65 °C. Digestion process is very fast in the
Thermophilic. Biogas generation starts in 8 to
10 days. High biogas
 production is achieved in this process but it is
very costly because high degree of energy
input is required. During this process, about
30-60% of the digestible solids are converted
into biogas.
• Type of waste
• Waste particle size
• Temperature
• pH
• Presence of toxic material
• Hydraulic retention time
• Solid retention time
• Carbon to nitrogen ratio
• Digester loading rate
• Mixing
Not all types of waste can be converted in
biogas. Anaerobic bacteria cannot degrade
lignin, Waste that contain huge amount of
sulfur or nitrogen result in large amount of
unwanted ammonia and hydrogen sulfide that
is not our requirement. The waste that is not
completely soluble in water can degrade very
slowly.
Size reduction is very important parameter in
anaerobic digestion. Pumping of waste after
size reduction is much easier as compared to
raw waste. We can avoid blockage of pipes
after shredding. Shredding is not only help in
pumping but also increase the surface area for
bacteria in reaction. Through shredding
biodegrading can easily accomplish. It also
helps in getting the consistent feed.
Temperature plays very important role in
anaerobic digestion. Biogas production
depends on temperature variation. With
increase in temperature, biogas production
increase
pH plays a vital role in anaerobic digestion. Methane
producing bacteria directly affect with the hydrogen ion
concentration. Digestion is completely prohibited by
excess of acidity. Bacteria produce methane in the pH
range of 6-8.At the start acid forming bacteria begin to
produce acids which break down into methane by
methogens. If acids formation still increasing and
exceed the consumption level of methogens then these
acids decrease the pH. When pH decreases, the carbon
dioxide contents start to increase while methane
production decreases. Normally to keep the anaerobic
digestion balance, lime is added. However, a level of
lime should maintain carefully because excess lime
result in precipitation of sodium carbonate. Sodium
bicarbonate can also be used to maintain the pH.
The toxic material level should maintain.
Anaerobic digestion process can handle small
quantity of toxic material. These toxic
materials are avoided because these materials
can inhibit the process. These toxic materials
can result in formation of other by-product
that is not our main aim.
Hydraulic retention time means how many days
the material remains in the digester. This
retention time play important role in anaerobic
digestion because it tells us the time factor for
bacteria growth which other hand tells the
conversion of biodegradation of organic
material into methane.
 The solid retention time is one of the important
factors in digestion process. It is equal to the amount
of solids maintained in the digester divided by the
amount of solid drained. Conversion of volatile solids
into methane depends on solid retention time. If solid
retention time is very low then it shows that there is
no sufficient time for bacteria to grow. Bacteria loss
in effluent increases. If bacteria loss rate exceeded
than bacteria growth rate, wash out occurs.
 Basic purpose of a process engineer is to minimize
the hydraulic retention time and increase the solid
retention time. In this way, one can enhance the
methane production rate.
Carbon to nitrogen ratio is also a main factor that
affects the anaerobic digestion process. Carbon
provides energy to microbes while nitrogen
enhances the microbial growth. If we do not
maintain the quantity of nitrogen then microbial
growth is inhibited which have diverse effect on
methane production. If carbon contents increases
and nitrogen contents decreases then energy level
increases which inhibit microbial growth. Carbon is
utilized 30 times more than the nitrogen.
Therefore, carbon to nitrogen ratio should be
maintained at 30:1
 Loading rate indicates the amount of volatile
components in a day. Volatile components are
those, which can be digested. It depends on the
type of feed or waste, which is fed into the
digester because this waste type tells the
biochemical activity in the digester.
 Loading rate keeps the balance between the acid
formation and methogenation. If the acid
formation increases then the pH level decrease
which has adverse effect on methogenation and
also effect the carbon to nitrogen ratio.
Mixing play an important role in achieving the
optimum anaerobic process. Mixing keeps
uniformity in substrate concentration and in
temperature. Mixing helps to avoid solid
deposition in anaerobic reactor.
 Advantages of biogas technologies

The production and utilisation of biogas

from animal manure provides
environmental and socio-economic
benefits for the society as a whole as well as
for the involved farmers.
  Renewable energy source
I. Previously used carbon is recycled.
II. Preservation of the natural resources and
to environmental protection.

 Reduced greenhouse gas emissions

I. Unused manure causes air pollution by
releasing CH4 and N2O.
II. Reduces increases in CO2 amount in air
  Reduced dependency on imported fossil fuels
I. Fossil fuels are limited resources
II. Concentrated in few geographical areas of
our planet.
 Waste reduction
I. Transform waste material into a valuable
resource.
II. Controls the overproduction of organic
wastes.
 Job creation
I. Work power required for production,
collection and transport of feedstock.
II. Manufacture of technical equipment.
III. Construction and maintenance
 Flexible and efficient end use of biogas
I. Flexible energy carrier
II. May be used directly or used for power
production
 Low water inputs
Needs the lowest amount of process
water.
As expected water shortages in many
regions of the world.
For one barrel of crude oil 25 barrels of
water are used.

 Benefits for the farmers.

Additional income for farmers.
Digestate is an excellent fertiliser.
 Close nutrient cycle
 The simple pilot plant consist of three major
parts ; A storage tank , A digester and
utilization unit may be a generator or a
burner etc.
 The total installation cost vary from 35000
Rs. To 45000 Rs.
 Maintenance depends ?
 If we produced one metric cube of gas
mixture in a day it gives energy equal to 0.7
kg of Petrol.
 The usual production is 25-30 metric cube of
biogas so equal to 20-25 liter petrol energy
produced daily.
 So we save 2000 Rs to 2500 Rs daily.
 Overall cost depends capacity and energy
required
 Addition of enzyme
 Addition of metals and alloys
 Addition of biodegradable components.