The biogas is a fuel generated in natural mediums or in specific devices, by the reactions of the organic material biodegradation, by the action of the microorganisms and other factors. This gas is well known as “swamp’s gas”, that’s because in these, the biodegradation of vegetable waste similar to the described one, occurs.
The production of Biogas by anaerobic decomposition is a useful way to treat the biodegradable waste, because it produce a fuel of great value and it also generate an effluent which can be apply as a conditioner to the soil or generic fertilizer.
The anaerobic digestion is a complex and degrading biological process, in which part of the organic materials of a Substrate (animal and vegetables waste) are transformed into biogas, (mix o carbon dioxide and methane with traces of other elements) by a consortium of bacteria sensible or completely inhibited by the oxygen or its precursor (example H2O). Using the anaerobic digestion process, it’s possible to transform great amount of waste, (vegetables, manure, Effluents from the food industry and Fermenter, of the paper industry, FORSU – Solid urban organic waste phase- and other chemicals industries), a in useful by-products. In the anaerobic digestion more than the 90% of the available energy by direct oxidation is transformed in methane, consuming only a 10% of the growing bacteria energy compared to the 50% consumed in an aerobic system.
This gas can be used to produce electric energy by turbines or plants that generate gas, in ovens, heaters, dryers, boiler or other systems of Gas combustion, properly adapted for such effect.
Biomass currently accounts for two-thirds of renewable energy in Europe and bioenergy is expected to play a key role in achieving the ambitious targets approved by the renewable energy directive (COP 21), to supply, at least, 20% of the generated electricity for the 2020 year, when currently the quota is much lower.
The OIL FOX’s objectives to exploit the biogas and the organic fertilizers are the followings:
1) Allow the correct identification and characterization of the biogás potential and organic fertilizers.
2) Detect the development of the best solutions and applications for the biogas exploitation and the organic fertilizers or biofertilizers.
3) Promote the use of the biogas systems and the use of the biofertilizers.
Biogas of Digesters (Biodigestion provoked at industrial installations)
Inside this type there are 3 subgroups, depending on the origin of the substrates to digest:
Biogas from Water Treatment Plants
Biogas FORSU (Organic fraction of urban solid waste)
Agroindustrial Biogas
In some cases it may be required mixes (codigestion) to make the viable processes.
Of the previous types of biogás, the most noble and with less amount of impurities is the one obtained by the agroindustrial waste. However, in the cases in which manure and Slurry Substrates are used it may appear significant amount of hydrogen sulfide in the biogas; wich will be precise to debug before its Energy use.
BIOGÁS FROM WATER TREATMENT PLANTS
This biogas is generated by the anaerobic digestion of the primary sludge of the treatment plants of waste waters.
Sludges of depurator stations of urban waste waters.
BIOGAS FORSU (Organic fraction of urban solid waste)
This biogas it’s generated by an organic fraction coming of the RSU.
AGROINDUSTRIAL BIOGAS
The agroindustrial sector is the Main source that generates by-products and organics compounds. The by-products and waste that are part of the agro industrial raw material group are the one coming from:
the agriculture
the fishing
the cattle raising
he food industry
the bioenergy industry
Biodiesel industries (vegetables by-products), bioetanol industries (vegetables by-products), Biorefineries, Glycerin.
Between these types of agro industrial raw material it should be noted because of its potential in the biogas production the followings:
Of Animal origin
Pork purin
cow manure
Hens manure
Rests of other species
Of vegetable origin:
weed
Beet leaf
stalk
wheat
Energy cultures (with a high biogás production)
microalgae
Of the food industry of vegetable origin: chaff of the beer industry or fruit and vegetable products waste. (citrics, of olive and the oil mill)
Surplus
Unsatisfied
by-products of its transformation.
Etc
Other waste of the food chain: gastronomy waste and oils.
Of the food industry of animal origin: gby-products of animal origin not destined to the human consumption.
Meat waste
dairy waste
Fish waste
The biogas is a fuel formed substantially by the following gases:
