Safety Precautions and Benefits

Safety Precautions
Safety concerns related to the installation and use of biodigester include health hazards and risks
of fire or explosion. Since the biogas produced from the organic wastes makes up 0% to 80% of biogas,
forms explosive mixtures in air, no naked flames should be used in the vicinity of a digester and electrical
equipment must be of suitable quality. As biogas displaces air it reduces the oxygen level, restricting
respiration, so any digester area needs to be well ventilated to minimize the risks of fire/explosion. It is
important that periodic checks for gas leaks should be performed. The inlet and outlet pipes are covered to
ensure that the gas produced are kept inside the reactor and to prevent health hazards. Do not divert the
effluent from the unit directly into lakes or streams.
As Anaerobic Digestion relies on a mixed population of bacteria of largely unknown origin, but often
including animal wastes, to carry out the waste treatment process care should be taken to avoid contact
with the digester contents and to wash thoroughly after working around the digester (and particularly before
eating or drinking). This also helps to minimize the spread odors which may accompany the digestion
process. The digestion process does reduce the number of pathogenic (disease causing) bacteria,
particularly at higher operating temperatures, but the biological nature of the process needs to be kept in
mind.
Benefits
Listed below are the benefits of using a biodigester:

The bio-digester unit helps to reduce nesting grounds for flies and mosquitos that could otherwise
spread illness to humans (Maximiliano, 2009)
Sludge is a better fertilizer than manure or synthetic fertilizers
Reduced pathogen transmission compared to untreated waste
Reduces organic content of waste materials by 30-50% and produces a stabilized liquid effluent.
Provides a sanitary way for disposal of human and animal wastes.
Produces large amounts of methane gas which can be stored at ambient temperature.
Produces free flowing, almost clear liquid odorless effluent. The effluent is a good liquid fertilizer.
Weed seeds are destroyed and pathogens are either destroyed or greatly reduced in number