Brazilian town turning human waste into clean energy

[Judi Lynn]

Brazilian town turning human waste into clean energy
by Maria Vitoria Velez Maria Vitoria Velez – Tue Jun 23, 1:51 am ET

PETROPOLIS, Brazil (AFP) – High in the cool hills of eastern Brazil, this tourist hot spot also known as the Imperial City is attracting worldwide attention thanks an innovative scheme to recycle human sewage.

It has fostered a relatively simple idea now gaining traction in other parts of Latin America and as far afield as Spain, as nations struggle with the impact of burgeoning populations compounded by dwindling supplies of fuel and water.

Here bio-digesters -- specially designed organic enzymes and bacteria -- are used to break down waste water and turn it into an alternative energy sources such as gas.

During three fermentation processes, the bio-digesters are unleashed on human effluent and as they break it down they produce a bio-gas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, which can then be piped into homes for use in heating or cooking.

"In fact this is a greenhouse gas, which is harmful to the atmosphere when it is unleashed, but can be collected to be useful," said Jorge Gaiofato, technical director at the Environmental Institute (OIA), the non-governmental organization behind the scheme.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090623/sc_afp/brazilenvironmentsewage_20090623055219

[Delphinus]

1. Grand idea!

Thanks!

[Berry Cool]

2. And a sh--ty idea at the same time! n/t

[liberal N proud]

3. Waste treatment facilities here in the US would just burn it off on site

I have seen facilities that have flames going 24/7 as if they were a refinery. They are burning off the methane from the waste treatment.

The only one I can recall at the moment is Storm Lake, Iowa. Why they don't pipe that stuff to homes or business, I don't know, but that sure looks like an opportunity missed.

[izquierdista]

4. Costs too much

(1) It costs too much to run a pipe where it can be used. and (2) General laziness.

[liberal N proud]

5. Give me the prospect of free gas to heat with...

I might pay for the pipeline to my business.

[izquierdista]

6. Pig headedness then

I remember driving through Artesia, NM some 30 years ago. They had an oil refinery flaring gas right in the middle of town. I thought to myself "maybe the people in town could use that gas". I drove through the town again last year -- the refinery still has the same gas flare blazing away.

[JohnWxy]

7. Brazil ahead of again. recommended.