Everything You Need To Know About Biogas Production

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Every year, India generates approximately 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW), with roughly half of it being organic.

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This organic waste, when disposed of irresponsibly, produces methane during decomposition.

Rather than emitting this toxic gas directly into the air, it can be used in biogas production to help curb pollution, improve livelihoods, and enhance the quality of life.

Many industrial sectors treat their wastewater through biological processes.

The anaerobic process produces biogas that can run the operations at the treatment plant.

This helps in saving costs on electricity and fossil fuels.

Before we delve into the anaerobic working process in the wastewater treatment plant, let’s gain a deeper understanding of biogas.

What is Biogas?

Biogas, commonly known as biomethane, is a renewable energy source produced through the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen.

It occurs naturally or as part of an industrial process and is utilized as fuel.

It mainly consists of 50-70% methane and 30-40% carbon dioxide, with a trace amount of other elements, such as hydrogen sulfide, siloxanes, and some moisture.

However, the relative quantities vary depending on the type of waste involved in producing the resulting biogas.

Biogas is considered to be highly efficient in converting energy sources into electricity.

It offers operators various benefits, including low power costs, reduced power outage risks, and improved sustainability profiles.

Achieving zero-carbon power with biogas is possible, as it is clean, reliable, and affordable in today’s world.

Some of the potential sources that generate biogas are:

Livestock Waste: Animal waste contains nutrients that serve as a substrate for biogas production. Manure from poultry, cattle, and pigs helps produce reasonable quantities of biomethane, a key component in biogas production.
Landfill Gas: This energy generator utilizes waste from domestic activities to develop biogas. Landfills contain suitable organic materials that decompose and contribute to the generation of biogas.
Activated Sludge From ETP/STP: The effluents that enter the wastewater treatment plant contain organic substances. The activated sludge is channeled to the decomposition chamber, where methane is generated.

Modern sewage treatment plants undergo efficient treatment, eliminating impurities.

The effluent and sewage sludge formed as byproducts are utilized as an energy source and biomass in the future.

In ETP/STP, microorganisms act on the waste in the biological treatment process, where they decompose the organic matter.

Depending on the availability of oxygen, degradation occurs in two ways: aerobic and anaerobic.

Microbes that decompose organic matter without oxygen emit methane and carbon dioxide.

This can be used in biogas production.

The demand for biogas technology is increasing as more people opt for sustainable energy sources to reduce costs and protect the environment.

Wastewater treatment plants can produce biogas on a large scale, as their primary role is to treat effluents and utilize methane in biogas production.

WWTPs are considered to be the largest consumers and producers of sustainable energy.

Biogas in Wastewater Treatment Plant

Biological treatment is a part of the wastewater treatment plant.

Under biological treatment, anaerobic digestion is a phase where bacteria in the treatment plant break down organic matter, such as animal manure, wastewater biosolids, and food waste, in the absence of oxygen.

Anaerobic digestion occurs in a sealed vessel called a biodigester.

The digester is designed and constructed in various shapes and sizes, specific to the site and feedstock conditions.

These reactors break down the waste and produce biogas as a result.

In a digester, multiple organic matters are combined for co-digestion.

Co-digested materials include manure, food waste (i.e., processing, distribution, and consumer-generated materials), crop residues, fats, oils, and greases (FOG), as well as many other sources.

It helps in increasing biogas production from low-yielding or difficult-to-digest organic waste.

However, sometimes the anaerobic process malfunctions.

Some of the common problems that are seen in the system are:

Oxygen Exposure
Variation in effluent upsetting the system
Temperature fluctuation
Foam formation

These common issues can affect biogas production and might indirectly impact the working of the treatment plant.

Is there a solution to overcome these issues?

Treating Wastewater with Cleanmaxx ANB

Organica Biotech has developed an innovative solution to address these issues.

With over 22 years of research expertise and our DSIR-approved laboratory, we help industries from analyzing the treatment plant’s problems to providing tailor-made solutions.

Cleanmaxx ANB contains a consortium of highly diverse facultative anaerobes that can stabilise the anaerobic system without making any physical change to the current system.

Benefits of Cleanmaxx ANB