biodigesters
Organic matter converters
Biodigesters are sealed systems that break down organic waste—manure, food scraps, sewage—through bacterial decomposition in the absence of oxygen.
The process produces biogas (mostly methane) that can be captured for fuel, plus nutrient-rich slurry used as fertilizer.
They range from small household units to industrial-scale facilities: The farm installed a biodigester to convert cattle waste into energy.
Animal waste as fertilizer
- slurrySemifluid mixture of solids
- feedstockUnprocessed manufacturing input
- livestockDomesticated farm animals
- dungAnimal fecal matter
compost · fertilizer · nutrients · effluent · husbandry · silage · piggery
Simplest alkane fuel
- anaerobicNot requiring oxygen
- cogenerationSimultaneous heat and electricity production
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- heatTransferred thermal energy
fuel · biomethane · flare · generator · combustion
Net-zero emissions state
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
- eco-friendlyNot harming the environment
- decarbonizationEliminating fossil fuel emissions
manure
Animal waste as fertilizer
- slurrySemifluid mixture of solids
- feedstockUnprocessed manufacturing input
- livestockDomesticated farm animals
dung · compost · fertilizer · nutrients · effluent · husbandry · silage · piggery
methane
Simplest alkane fuel
- anaerobicNot requiring oxygen
- cogenerationSimultaneous heat and electricity production
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
heat · fuel · biomethane · flare · generator · combustion
carbon-neutral
Net-zero emissions state
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
- eco-friendlyNot harming the environment
biodigesterslandfills
Engineered waste disposal sites
garbage dumps · waste incineration · ocean dumping · illegal dumping
biodigesterscoal mining
Underground carbon extraction
oil drilling · petroleum refining · gas pipelines · oil refineries