Waste to Fuel: Problems and Solutions

By Connor Wright 7th grade, Tamarac Middle School

RPI EcoEd Middle School Research Report Spring 2012

 

Algae Covered Stream From

Nitrates

Introduction

History of biogas: Biogas was used to heat bath water in

Assyria in the 10th century and in Persia in the 16th century

In 1895 In England, Biogas was retrieved from a designed sewage treatment plant and used to light street lamps

Biogas is used on many farms because there is a great supply of food waste there

Opening StoryIn Nebraska there is a farmer named Danny

Kluthe. He is a Hog Farmer. He runs his farm from his hogs waist! You may be wondering how this happens but its quite simple. He has a good size anaerobic digester. This digester breaks the waste down in to the greenhouse gas methane. Kluthe said “that CAT engine purrs on that methane.” This is the story that inspired me to do this essay.

This is Kluthe walking across his digester. The process of anaerobic digestion takes about 2 months.

Introduction

Stakeholders: Farmers/factory farms Environment People Electric Corporations

Introduction

In my research I found how animal waste pollutes water supplies. Instead of letting the waste pollute you can use it as an energy source. If you use an anaerobic digester It creates methane which can be used as heat and energy sources.I also found how it contributes to global warming. The methane gets into the atmosphere and stays in it for7-15years. During that period it heats the atmosphere which contributes to global warming

Sources

Section 1: ProblemsOverview of Problems: Nitrates from waste are released into

the water supply Methane from the waste is released into

the atmosphere and contributes to global warming.

Waste Build Up Need for Fossil Fuels

Section 1: ProblemsProblem 1: Released Nitrates Animal waste holds nitrates. When animal waste sits there, those nitrates are released into the air. Once they are released into the air they then reach our water supplies. That triggers the growth of algae. It grows twice as fast and sucks all of the oxygen out of the water. That oxygen is needed to help underwater plants grow. If those plants die the fish then have nothing to eat. Now that the fish have dies the animals have no fish to eat. Then the animals die. If the animals die then the humans have nothing to eat and we die. That could be the outcome if we don’t try to fix this problem.

Section 1: ProblemsProblem 2: Released Methane

The waste also carries a greenhouse gas called methane. That can also get into the air. Once there, up to the atmosphere it goes. It stays in the atmosphere for times from 7-15 years! The methane heats the atmosphere which then contributes to global warming.

Section 1: ProblemsProblem 3: Waste Build UpYes waste is polluting water supplies, and yes its contributing to global warming but your also left with a pile of poop! Some farms have so much and don’t know what to do with it that they dig holes and form waste lagoons. Those are also known as pools of waste. Waste has a distinct odor and that is a concern to the people in the surrounding areas who personally don’t like the smell.

Waste Lagoon

Section 1: ProblemsProblem 4: Need for Fossil FuelsFossil fuels are used daily. We use gas in our cars as well as oil. Another fossil fuel is coal. We go intercontinental to get these fuels when we have a lifetime supply of it. Once gone through an anaerobic digester that waste can be used in many different ways.

Section 2: SolutionsOverview of solutions: A solution to all of these problems would be the use of anaerobic digestion which is a series of events that break down the waste to create methane. Methane is a green house gas. See next slide to see how anaerobic digestion works.

This process takes about 2 months to complete.

Industrial size

House Hold Size

Section 2: SolutionsSolution 2: After anaerobic digestion the waste then is biogas which can be used for three main things, the first being gas burner/Boiler. That would be used to heat homes. Another use for the biogas would be vehicle transportation. Gas is up to about 4 dollars a gallon. That’s Outrageous! Well people use the bathroom every day so we have a unlimited supply of waste. The cost of biofuel would be very low and maybe even free. It can also be used as a power source. An alternative to electricity. The last use of the biogas would be turbine/generator fuel. This would be a big solution to a couple environmental issues.

Cow Waste

ClosingClosing points: Animal waste is causing many environmental issues. It is contributing to global warming from the methane it releases. It pollutes water supplies from the nitrates it emits. It causes smell and displeasure to surrounding people. The most common solution to this would be using anaerobic digestion. By using anaerobic digestion we are turning that waste into methane. That methane can then be used for heating, vehicle fuel, and/or turbine or generator fuel and electricity.