{"id":50651,"key":"AIDG_biodigester","title":"AIDG biodigester","latest":{"id":1206356,"timestamp":"2025-11-27T19:59:46Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"{{Project data\n| authors = AIDG\n}}\n\nThe following is a statement from the [http://www.aidg.org/ Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group] (AIDG) about biodigesters and how they work:\n\n\"Unlike a septic tank, which is not sealed and vents methane, as well as passing ef- fluent to its leach field, a biodigester is a sealed system that intentionally promotes the controlled buildup of methane. As methane builds up in the chamber, it in- creases to a level that kills parasites and cysts. More waste is added to the cham- ber and is slowly consumed and sterilized by the . . . bacteria. As time passes, this sterilized effluent builds and flows through the exit of the chamber. This former fecal matter is now a nearly sterile fertilizer, suitable for use on [food] crops. The ex- cess methane . . . is piped away from the chamber and stored for use in heating, cooking, [and] lighting. . . .\".<ref name=\"van Horn\">Van Horn, R. (2007). Green and Non-Electric Technology. Phi Delta Kappan, 88(8), 630-631.</ref>\n\nAIDG's design uses polypropelene plastic bags and plastic tubing to remove the methane from the biodigester. AIDG claims that their \"family-sized\" biodigesters can generate up to four hours of energy for cooking or water heating.\n\n== References ==\n\n<references />\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| keywords = biodigester, plastic bugs, plastic tubing, methane\n}}"}