26 March 2007

Cows and Anaerobic Digestion from The Guardian Newspaper

Heading: Fist-sized pill hard to swallow

23 March 2007

According to today's Guardian newspaper, a new methane-reducing pill has been developed by German boffins to help stop cows from burping.

Scientists have estimated that cows are responsible for 4% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Known as a bolus, the fist-sized pill should help to reduce the methane produced by the animals and go some way towards combatting global warming.

WebMaster: Well it amused me... and, it is about Anaerobic Digestion, albeit not the sort we usually discuss in this blog!

18 March 2007

Septic Tanks: Are they Anaerobic Digestors?

As we have been asked this question several times recently, we have added a page to our articles section on the www.anaerobic-digestion.com web site.

The short answer is of course yes, they utilise the anaerobic digestion process for the treatment (albeit only partial and not to watercourse discharge standards) of sewage from isolated locations where inhabited dwellings are located remote from public sewers into which a connection would otherwise be made.

However, they are in my expereince not normally discussed as being anaerobic digestors, and I have never heard them mentioned as methane emittors. If methanogenisis does occur it will be at low temperatures for the methanogens to be working.

However, in hot countries we do know that methane gas can be produced very effectively from domestic effluent type anaerobic digestors and is used for cooking etc. Such installations are used throughout China and India in very large numbers.

So, should we in the west be collecting methane from our septic tanks?

We always love feedback and comment, but feedback on this one appreciated more than ever.

03 March 2007

Advantages of Anaerobic Digestion Processes

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION contributes to reducing the greenhouse gases.

A well-managed ANAEROBIC DIGESTION system will aim to maximise methane production, but not release any gases to the atmosphere, thereby reducing overall emissions.

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION also provides a source of energy with no net increase in atmospheric carbon which contributes to climate change.Energy generated through the AD process can help reduce the demand for fossil fuels.



ANAEROBIC DIGESTION creates an integrated management system which reduces the likelihood of soil and water pollution occurring, compared to disposal of untreated animal manure / slurries.

A financial advantage of ANAEROBIC DIGESTION is the conversion of residues into potentially sale-able products: biogas, soil conditioner, liquid fertiliser.




These are just a few the the advantages of AD. We have updated our The Benefits of Anaerobic Digestion page. We suggest a visit to read more.

Have we listed them all?

01 March 2007

Biomethane Looks Promising for 2007 Says US Fleets and Fuels

Biomethane Looks Promising for 2007 San Francisco, California [RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

Biomethane, the focus of the January issue of Fleets & Fuels newsletter, is reported as promising as a viable renewable energy market. Since biomethane is made from waste - from animals, crops and municipal sewage - its production involves no diversion of foodstuffs, unlike liquid biofuels.

"Biomethane is fast proving itself in Europe, and entrepreneurs and policymakers in the United States are becoming aware of it too."

-- Rich Piellisch, Fleets & Fuels, editor

Read more at RenewableEnergyAccess.com

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