One of the fuels that is increasingly present in many homes and infrastructures, such as transport services, is biogas, a fuel of natural origin It has many applications and that, although it is not a renewable and clean source, as it is a non-renewable energy source, it is more respectful with the environment than so-called fossil fuels, such as coal or oil. If you want to know a little more about what is biogas and its uses, keep reading this Green Ecologist article and we'll tell you about it.
What is biogas: simple definition
Biogas is a combustible gas that arises from the chemical reactions carried out by certain types of microorganisms, especially bacteria, when they feed on the decomposing organic matter. That is, when certain bacteria feed on dead organic matter, which is nothing other than what is commonly known as decomposition or putrefaction, these microorganisms are living beings that decompose organic matter and generate a series of gases that can be used by humans as fuel.
However, for this gas to be produced, a series of specific conditions must be met, such as, for example, that it occurs in an oxygen-free atmosphere, that is, an anaerobic environment, which is necessary for these bacteria can carry out this process so that the gas can be useful for human use. This is not a big problem since, isolating the organic matter in a space without oxygen and with the appropriate bacteria, it can be achieved produce biogas without any other effort thanks to the feeding that the microorganisms carry out naturally.
The biogas composition It is varied, but, in most cases, it can be said that it is made up of a large amount of methane gas, which is around 50% or 70% of the total. It also contains a considerable amount of CO2, and, in smaller amounts, hydrogen, oxygen, and other gases.
Where do you get the organic matter to make biogas?
Actually, one of the great advantages of this type of gas is that, precisely, can be obtained from any type of decomposing organic matter. In this way, it can be obtained from the waste and garbage of some industries or from household waste.
In fact, animal excrement from livestock industries can be used for this purpose. Or, without going any further, from the remains of food that are thrown in homes and restaurants. Actually, the garbage can or brown container, that of organic waste, which should not be confused with the gray or dark green color and which is intended for everything organic that cannot be recycled in any other way, is designed for this. In the brown bucket all the remains of food and organic matter are thrown that can be used for the biogas industry which, in the end, constitutes a much easier way to obtain a fuel that, compared to petroleum derivatives, emits less amounts of GHG (Greenhouse Gases) into the atmosphere. In this way, although it is not a completely clean alternative, it is true that it is less harmful.
What can biogas be used for?
Biogas can have different uses. On the one hand, it can be a quite efficient substitute for natural gas. In this sense, biogas can be used both to move certain means of transport, such as city buses or some wheeled vehicles. On the other hand, it can also be used to heat homes, providing heating and hot water service when necessary, just as happens with the burning of natural gas.
Likewise, biogas can also be used to produce electrical energy in power plants. Again, we are faced with a use similar to that of natural gas in this regard. By burning biogas, a water circuit can be heated which, when evaporated, activates a series of turbines, which allows the energy of the movement to be converted into electricity that can be used by anyone connected to the supply.
Finally, another of the uses that is not derived directly from biogas, but from its manufacture, is the production of manures and natural fertilizers. During the biogas production process, a large amount of solid waste is also produced that is not used by microorganisms to produce biogas. However, these solid remains are an excellent compost to fertilize soils of any type, from the pots of the decorative plants of a house to the cultivation fields. In this way, it is an industry, not only does it not generate solid waste, but the waste it generates is perfectly usable by the agricultural industry, in a clear example of a closed circular economy that benefits all parties involved.
If you want to read more articles similar to What is biogas and its uses, we recommend that you enter our category of non-renewable energies.
