Biodigesters by EARTH University Foundation

This is a video made by the EARTH University Foundation in conjuction with EARTH University in Guápiles, Costa Rica.

Transcript for "EARTH University Foundation - Biodigester"

At EARTH University students take advantage of the energy that is naturall present in animal waste and kitchen trash. As the waste breaks down, whether in the ground, compost heap, or landfill or biodigester--it releases methane gas. So, it gets in here and there it has around 25 days of retention where it ferments anaerobically and it produces the biogas. And this is the setup we use for measuring the quality of the gas and the amount of biogas produced. This is the volume meter and this is the setup we have made for measuring the concentration of the methane. And now I'm going to show you the flame. Converting to this recycled fuel will ultimately help to prevent reforestation. For the families who have to buy their fuel, a biodigester will result in huge cost savings. That's methane, it's energy. Apart from providing fuel, a biodigester is also a source of high-quality fertilizer that can be used on crops. During the deomposition process in the biodigester, the waste is also sterilized. This means that animal manure, which has caused many problems in developing countries when it is placed on fields of low-to-the-ground crops such as lettuce or cabbage, can be used without fear of causing sickness. Disease-causing bacteria such as e. coli are killed inside the biodigester and never make contact with the plants. Some studies have also shown that the fertilizer from a biodigester has a higher nutritional value than the raw material (manure) that is placed in. The biodigester stores the gas for use in heating, cooking, or lighting, which provides a sustainable substitute for the kerosene, propane, or firewood that many rural families in the developing world now use. Znk Media Productions. Unversity EARTH. earth.ac.cr. Foundation earth-usa.org.