Biogas: Overview, Topics, Production, Uses, & Facts

Biogas is one of the renewable sources of energy which is produced from anaerobic digestion of organic materials. These materials are obtained from agriculture waste manure and food scraps which are easily found in residential areas. It comprises methane and carbon dioxide which is converted into alternative fuel which offers benefits to both the environment as well as economic health of the country. Biogas is one of the topics in Biology and they carry a weightage of 3% in NEET and 4% in CBSE and other Paramedical Exams.

What is Biogas?

Biogas is a mixture of gasses made from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal trash, plant material, sewage, green waste, and food waste. The main gasses in biogas are methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. It is a renewable source of energy. Some basic points are discussed below:

• Biogas consist of methane and carbon dioxide with some traces of hydrogen sulfide for moisture and also have siloxanes.

• So common raw materials which are used to produce biogas are agricultural waste manure, municipal trash plant materials, sewage green waste and food waste.

• Biogas are also produced in anaerobic digesters and bio-reactors.

• The formulation of biogas takes place through methanogenic and anaerobic respiratory organisms.

• It is utilized to fuel the heating process such as cooking or in harnessing the energy during combustion.

Also Read:

• MCQ Practice on Microbes
• Microbes In Human Welfare
• Biological agents
• Biotechnology Principles and Process

Biogas Plant

A biogas plant is a structure that offers anaerobic digestion conditions devoid of oxygen. Simply described, it's a man-made technology that allows garbage to be converted into environmentally friendly fertilizers and sustainable electricity.

How is Biogas produced?

An eco-friendly, renewable energy source is biogas. It is created during a process known as anaerobic digestion, in which microbes break down organic matter, such as food or animal manure, without the presence of oxygen. The waste material must be contained in an environment with no oxygen for this to happen. Biogas can be produced artificially or organically as part of industrial processes for fuel.

Environmental Impacts of Biogas

Using biogas as fuel has a positive impact on the environment. Its combustion produces no particulates, it contains no sulfur or heavy metals, and it is completely renewable, making it carbon-neutral. Some important impacts are discussed below;

• Biogas provides environmental sustainability as a fuel.

• The combustion of the biogas produces no particles and is free from sulphur or any kind of heavy metals.

• Biogas is a renewable source of energy which is also considered carbon neutral.

• The production of biogas reduces greenhouse emissions by 85 to 95% in the environment.

• Utilise in biogas decreases the release of methane by 25 times as the potent CO2 particle.

• It also contributes to the ecological preservation of fossils.

Applications of Biogas

Some important Applications of Biogas are discussed below:

• To fuel cars, biogas can be compressed and used as a vehicle fuel.

• As a substitute for natural gas - If biogas is cleaned and upgraded to natural gas standards, it becomes biomethane and can be used similarly to methane, including for cooking and heating.

• Biogas is also used as a fuel by converting it into electricity through combustion and gas engines are fuel cells.

• Can be used for heating applications including space heating or hot water generation contributing to the energy efficiency of residential as well as industrial areas.

• The production of biogas from organic waste helps in managing the waste efficiently which produces the landfill areas.

Types of Questions Asked from Biogas

During exam preparation, different types of questions about the Biogas are asked. The table below contains the different patterns of questions asked in different exams.

Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Biogas

It takes effort to remember everything in a single go. We made the entire problem easy. Some of the tricks regarding Biogas are given below which you can use to memorise the important points.

Biogas Production Process

"DAMP: Digestion, Anaerobic, Methanogens, Products"

• D: Digestion (the breakdown of organic material by microorganisms)

• A: Anaerobic (occurs in the absence of oxygen)

• M: Methanogens (specific microorganisms that produce methane)

• P: Products (mainly methane, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases)

Components of Biogas

"MCH: Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulfide"

• M: Methane (CH₄) (the primary component and main energy source)

• C: Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) (a byproduct, contributing to greenhouse gases)

• H: Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) (present in small amounts, can be toxic)

Benefits of Biogas

"RICE: Renewable, Inexpensive, Carbon-neutral, Efficient"

• R: Renewable (produced from organic waste materials)

• I: Inexpensive (cost-effective compared to fossil fuels)

• C: Carbon-neutral (helps reduce overall carbon emissions)

• E: Efficient (provides a reliable source of energy for cooking, heating, and electricity)

Applications of Biogas

"HEAT: Heating, Electricity, Agriculture, Transport"

• H: Heating (used for cooking and space heating)

• E: Electricity (can be converted to electricity through generators)

• A: Agriculture (used as organic fertilizer through digestate)

• T: Transport (biomethane can be used as a vehicle fuel)

Challenges of Biogas

"NICE: Needs, Infrastructure, Contamination, Efficiency"

• N: Needs (requires specific substrates for optimal production)

• I: Infrastructure (needs proper setup for anaerobic digestion)

• C: Contamination (risk of impurities affecting biogas quality)

• E: Efficiency (requires optimal conditions for maximum gas production)

Also Read