addy236
Anaerobic Digesters
This photo was taken on November 14 and depicts anaerobic digesters in the University of Maryland’s Bioenergy and Bioprocessing Laboratory. These digesters are involved in research that uses food waste to produce renewable biogas. As discussed in a study by the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, millions of tons of food waste globally end up in landfills each year where it releases colossal amounts of methane (www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032114003633). Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and the second-largest contributor to global warming, according to NASA (climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/methane/?intent=121#:~:text=...(CH4)%20is%20a,carbon%20dioxide%20(CO2). Anaerobic digesters have the potential to divert food waste from landfills and convert it into valuable byproducts.
Anaerobic digestion occurs in closed reactors, shown in the photo, that lack oxygen and are “fed” organic waste. The reactors contain complex communities of microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea, which break down the waste in the absence of oxygen. The microorganisms release biogases during decomposition, which contains energy-dense methane and can be used for electricity, to heat homes, or power vehicles, as explained by the principal investigator at the Bioenergy and Bioprocessing Lab (youtu.be/aRItrVLsI30?feature=shared). The digesters shown in the photo co-digest food waste with dairy manure, which increases energy production. Anaerobic digestion also produces solid waste, called digestate, which can be processed into high-quality organic fertilizer and other horticulture products.
The reactors shown in the photo are relevant to SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. Unlike methane that escapes from food waste in landfills, methane from anaerobic digesters is captured and can be used for energy. This helps create a “closed loop” system which utilizes the biogas from organic waste instead of directly releasing it into the atmosphere. Although anaerobic digestion isn’t yet used for large-scale energy generation, it is a renewable way to get rid of our exorbitant amounts of food and other organic waste. This technology can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels via sustainable energy, which contributes to SDG 7. Anaerobic digestion can also make energy more accessible, especially in rural areas. Agricultural residue and animal manure, which are readily available in rural regions, could create a local and renewable energy source in developing countries, according to research from the Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology (www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/14/5409). By converting organic waste into renewable biogas, anaerobic digestion reduces harmful methane emissions and creates a sustainable energy source, with the potential to improve the quality of life for rural communities.
Anaerobic Digesters
This photo was taken on November 14 and depicts anaerobic digesters in the University of Maryland’s Bioenergy and Bioprocessing Laboratory. These digesters are involved in research that uses food waste to produce renewable biogas. As discussed in a study by the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, millions of tons of food waste globally end up in landfills each year where it releases colossal amounts of methane (www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032114003633). Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and the second-largest contributor to global warming, according to NASA (climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/methane/?intent=121#:~:text=...(CH4)%20is%20a,carbon%20dioxide%20(CO2). Anaerobic digesters have the potential to divert food waste from landfills and convert it into valuable byproducts.
Anaerobic digestion occurs in closed reactors, shown in the photo, that lack oxygen and are “fed” organic waste. The reactors contain complex communities of microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea, which break down the waste in the absence of oxygen. The microorganisms release biogases during decomposition, which contains energy-dense methane and can be used for electricity, to heat homes, or power vehicles, as explained by the principal investigator at the Bioenergy and Bioprocessing Lab (youtu.be/aRItrVLsI30?feature=shared). The digesters shown in the photo co-digest food waste with dairy manure, which increases energy production. Anaerobic digestion also produces solid waste, called digestate, which can be processed into high-quality organic fertilizer and other horticulture products.
The reactors shown in the photo are relevant to SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. Unlike methane that escapes from food waste in landfills, methane from anaerobic digesters is captured and can be used for energy. This helps create a “closed loop” system which utilizes the biogas from organic waste instead of directly releasing it into the atmosphere. Although anaerobic digestion isn’t yet used for large-scale energy generation, it is a renewable way to get rid of our exorbitant amounts of food and other organic waste. This technology can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels via sustainable energy, which contributes to SDG 7. Anaerobic digestion can also make energy more accessible, especially in rural areas. Agricultural residue and animal manure, which are readily available in rural regions, could create a local and renewable energy source in developing countries, according to research from the Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology (www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/14/5409). By converting organic waste into renewable biogas, anaerobic digestion reduces harmful methane emissions and creates a sustainable energy source, with the potential to improve the quality of life for rural communities.