Anaerobic digestion

Abstract

Identifying an alternative source of energy to those commonly in use has attracted increasing interest from researchers in recent years, and a particular focus has been placed on the identification of sustainable, renewable energy forms. Anaerobic digestion is a series of biochemical reactions by which different types of microorganisms break down biodegradable material to produce biogas, a clean form of energy. Almost all types of waste that have a high concentration of organic material can be degraded by a process of anaerobic biodegradation. Biogas, as a by-product of the anaerobic process, represents an ideal renewable energy source that can relieve some of the environmental problems associated with conventional energy sources. This chapter provides a brief overview of some of the basic concepts associated with the anaerobic digestion process and its complexities. It describes the steps involved in the anaerobic biodegradation process and provides insights into microbial relationships, substrata microorganism interactions, and some types of anaerobic digesters.