Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version. If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options. Methane Production and Water Quality Improvements in Agricultural Biodigesters in Costa RicaPublished by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org Citation: Paper number 067014, 2006 ASAE Annual Meeting . (doi: 10.13031/2013.21009) @2006Authors: Stephanie L. Lansing, Jay F. Martin, Raúl Botero Botero Keywords: Biodigester, agricultural wastewater, methane, ammonium, organic matter, Costa Rica
In developing countries, water pollution and access to energy resources are interrelated challenges that
encompass issues of human health, environmental protection, and economic development. Anaerobic biodigesters
utilize on-site animal waste to simultaneously reduce water pollutants and produce methane gas for cooking or
electricity generation. Seven low-cost biodigesters located in the Limon Province of Costa Rica on small-scale farms
were studied to determine wastewater treatment ability and methane production potential of these systems. Twelve
environmental parameters were studied for each biodigester to determine the quality of methane produced and
improvements in water quality. The variability among wastewater at the seven biodigesters was examined to
determine the influence of wastewater differences on methane production.
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