Biogas May Contain Any Number of Components Depending Upon Type of Sludge It Contains

 

Biogas is a mixture of carbon dioxide, methane and small amounts of hydrogen contained in a liquid medium, generally solids suspension. This highly volatile organic compound can be recovered by means of gasification with the aid of different techniques such as charcoal, dehydrating or via chemical precipitation. The major components of biogas are hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water.

Biogas normally contains both gaseous and non-gaseous elements. The gaseous component is the carbon dioxide or methane that is the main component of the organic liquid that is broken down in the digestion process. The non-gaseous component is usually water, along with a number of minor components depending upon the type of sludge. These components are necessary for the proper functioning of the biogas digestion process.

When raw material such as organic residues or animal manure is fed to the bacteria that break down the biomass into simple sugars, the bacteria produce carbon dioxide, which acts as a fuel. As the fuel progresses through the food/gasification cycle, more carbon dioxide is produced. As the cycle continues, more carbon dioxide is produced until the concentration reaches about ten percent in the final sludge. In order for the biogas to be recovered the concentrations must reach a point where they can no longer support further microbial growth, and the sludge must turn to gel.

Biogas may contain any number of components depending upon the type of sludge it contains, but the most commonly found components are hydrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide. The component hydrogen is produced during the digestion process itself when the bacteria break down the organic materials into simple sugars. The oxygen found in the biogas comes from the decomposition of the organic materials as it passes through the digester. Finally, carbon dioxide is the byproduct of the oxidation process when the sludge is drained or re-circulated.

As new technology keeps advancing in the biogas industry in the U.S. so too does the number of possible applications for biogas systems. They can be used to treat sludge containing petroleum products, industrial waste, municipal solid wastes and agricultural wastes. They are also being successfully used to recover fossil fuels which will allow these fuels to be burned for energy production instead of contributing to global warming. This means that the popularity of biogas systems are likely to continue to grow.