Turning Sewage into Energy: Biomass Energy: Eco20/20

Turning Sewage into Energy

Waste into Want: A Magical Story

Everyone has heard the old adage that "one man's garbage is another man's gold". In the case of turning waste into energy, it's the truth. The process is complicated, and the project is costly, but as it becomes more widely accepted, it is projected that the large projects will be easily and cheaply duplicated at waste treatment centers throughout the United States.

Methane

Methane is a naturally occurring gas that is usable as fuel. It can be formed from solid waste, sludge water, landfill garbage and other sources that are often overlooked and thought of as disgusting. In light of the fight for green energy, however, methane is becoming a gas that is not only attractive to green energy producers, it is a gas that has become a joy to create.

Methane Creation

Methane creation is actually quite simple. Put all the disgusting waste in a tank called a digester, make the environment in the tank warm and moist, and leave it alone. Bacteria will grow in the tank that will eat away the waste. In the process of eliminating the waste, the bacteria will emit methane gas. This is environmentally great because it reduces the amount of waste produced and landfill spaced needed to store garbage.

Electricity from Methane

Once the methane is captured, it is broken into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Next, the carbon dioxide is turned into carbonate by circling it through the break down process again. Then, the carbonate reapplied to the hydrogen. This process creates more carbon dioxide and water to repeat the process. It also generates heat, which in turn spins the turbines to spin the generator. This in turn creates the electricity.

Breakthroughs

There has been at least one major breakthrough in the process of turning waste into energy. New fuel cells have been developed that coat electrodes with gold nanoparticles, making them more conductive for energy. Another breakthrough is a new strain of the Geobacter microbe. This new strain needs less biofilm, which reduces the time to produce electricity. There has also been a breakthrough in a process designed to eliminate toxins from the methane produced, making it even cleaner and better for the environment. Yet another waste recycling breakthrough has been the ability to turn plastics into oil that can then be converted into a fuel suitable for automobiles and airplanes.

Benefits

Unlike fuels that require biomass, waste energy production does not require additional land. It takes less time to create the fuel than it takes to grow and harvest the crops and then convert the crops into fuel. It is also possible to create as much fuel, if not more, than biomass. Yet another benefit of turning waste into energy is the fact that waterways will not be reformed. This means that the current waterway systems may remain untouched. This will leave current irrigation systems in place for farmers. The benefit that is most often stressed is the fact that much of our recycled wastewater will be even cleaner than that which goes through current wastewater treatment programs.

Straw into Gold

It may not sound as glamorous as turning straw into gold, but turning wastewater into electricity may be even better. There are many benefits, no resources required other than those that human kind already create in abundance, and actually produces more energy than it requires making the energy.