We unleash the power of organic waste.

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Anaerobic digestion is a natural process that breaks down organic materials, such as food waste, animal manure, and plant residues, in the absence of oxygen. It occurs in special environments called anaerobic digesters.

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A simple summary of anaerobic digestion:
 

1. Feedstock: Organic waste materials, like food scraps or agricultural residues, are collected and added to an anaerobic digester.
    

2. Anaerobic Environment: The digester creates an oxygen-free environment, usually in a sealed tank or system, where microorganisms can thrive.
    

3. Microbial Action: Different types of bacteria and other microorganisms, known as anaerobes, break down organic waste through a series of biochemical reactions.
    

4. Decomposition Stages: The anaerobic digestion process consists of several stages: a. Hydrolysis: Solid organic matter is broken down into simpler compounds like sugars, proteins, and fats. b. Acidogenesis: The simple compounds are further converted into organic acids and volatile fatty acids. c. Acetogenesis: Microbes convert the organic acids into acetate, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. d. Methanogenesis: Methanogenic bacteria consume acetate, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide, producing methane (a valuable energy source) and carbon dioxide as byproducts.
    

5. Biogas Production: The methane gas generated during methanogenesis is collected and referred to as biogas. Biogas is composed mainly of methane (50-75%) and carbon dioxide (25-50%), with small amounts of other gases.
    

6. Energy Generation: Biogas can be used as a renewable energy source. It can be burned directly for heating or electricity generation or processed to remove impurities and produce biomethane, which is similar to natural gas and can be used as a vehicle fuel or injected into the natural gas grid.
    

7. Digestate: After the digestion process, the remaining material is called digestate. It is rich in nutrients and can be used as a fertilizer in agriculture.