| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Biogas Composition | Biogas is a mixture of gases, predominantly methane (CH4), along with CO2 and H2. |
| Microbial Activity | Microbes produce different gaseous end-products during growth and metabolism. The type of gas depends on the microbes and the organic substrates they utilize. |
| Methanogens | Methanogens are a group of anaerobic bacteria that produce methane as a significant by-product. |
| Key Microbe Example | Methanobacterium is a common example of a methanogen. |
| Anaerobic Environments | Methanogens are commonly found in anaerobic sludge during sewage treatment and in the rumen (part of the stomach) of cattle. |
| Role in Cattle Rumen | In the rumen, methanogens help break down cellulose, which is a major component of cattle feed, aiding in their nutrition. Humans cannot digest cellulose. |
| Cattle Dung (Gobar) | Cattle dung is rich in methanogens and can be used for generating biogas, commonly referred to as gobar gas. |
| Biogas Plant Structure | A biogas plant consists of a concrete tank (10-15 feet deep) where bio-wastes and slurry of dung are collected. A floating cover rises as gas is produced by microbial activity. |
| Gas Production and Collection | The rising cover collects the gas, which is then piped to nearby houses for use as fuel in cooking and lighting. |
| Spent Slurry | The spent slurry, after gas production, is removed through an outlet and used as fertilizer. |
| Rural Implementation | Biogas plants are often built in rural areas where cattle dung is available in large quantities. |
| Development in India | The technology for biogas production in India was developed mainly due to the efforts of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). |
| Educational Inquiry | Students are encouraged to visit a nearby biogas plant to learn more about its operation and management. |
