New Compact Biodigester Model for Organic Waste Treatment in Urban Residences and Buildings

Abstract

A biodigester consists of a closed chamber to anaerobically digest biomass into biogas and biofertilizer, and is an efficient alternative for organic waste treatment and energy generation. The new interest in decentralizing waste treatment and the restricted space of urban centers makes compact biodigesters a feasible alternative for sustainable cities. This paper presents the compact and low-cost Hexagonal Methane Collector biodigester and its operational capacity to produce biogas. The factorial experimental design results indicate that the volume of inoculum and mixture inside the reactor are important in controlling biogas yield, but the volume of water is not. The findings indicate that this novel biodigester technology has a practical operational mode based on a batch dry system. The space-saving hexagonal shape and the flexible design, which can serve a variable number of people in small places are other advantages of Hexagonal Methane Collector compared with available models. Therefore, this concept of biodigester could be an important tool to integrate organic waste treatment and energy sustainability goals in increasingly populated urban centers.