William Atkins
Wednesday, 21 May 2008 01:50
Science -
Energy
Page 1 of 2
A comprehensive study has been completed by Taiwanese scientists on the advantages of using biogas digesters to convert decaying manure into fuel for rural communities. Besides a source of fuel, the study finds biogas is healthier, too!
According to
New Scientist magazine (May 17-23, 2008), Govindasamy Agoramoorthy (of
Tajen University, P’ingtung, Taiwan) and Minna Hsu (of
National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan) have performed the first “rigorous” study—on people in rural areas on India—about the advantages and disadvantages of using biogas digesters to turn decaying manure into fuel.
Biogas refers to gas that is produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter when oxygen is not present (anaerobic, or “without oxygen”).
Biogas can be made by the anaerobic digestion (fermentation) of biodegradable materials such as decomposing manure, sewage, municipal waste, and energy crops. Once produced, biogas consists primarily of methane and carbon dioxide.
Biogas digesters, or biogas plants, are devices that convert biodegradable wastes into fuel. Often called anaerobic digesters, they have been found, from this study and previous studies, to be cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and to be able to improve the health of rural people who use them.
In the study performed by Agoramoorthy and Hsu, they found that rural families in India used 60% less firewood and kerosene—the commonly used fuels—when they instead used biogas, produced from biogas digesters, as their fuel.
What are the health considerations between traditional fuels and biogass fuel? PLease read on.
