Biogas
Agricultural and animal waste can be converted to methane using a simple technology called a biodigester. Biodigesters come in many varieties. ATC works with partner design firms to optimize biodigesters for specific sites.
From small rural farms to municipal landfills biodigesters are an economical way to create fuel while reducing greenhouse gasses.
Summer 2009 ATC will assess the potential to sort municipal solid waste in Latin America to create fuel using biodigesters. Our preliminary assessment is that there is a significant percentage of organic material in the solid waste stream that can be economically converted to biogas, liquid natural gas and methanol.
Charcoal
Charcoal can be made from agricultural waste – a process that saves trees and saves money. The process of making charcoal can be artisanal using a simple oil drum or it can be scaled up to create small to medium scale business. Charcoal can also be made from the material left over from extracting oil from oil crops.
Bio-Crude
A fuel similar to crude oil can be made from any agricultural material by heating in the absence of oxygen. The resulting gas can be condensed into a crude oil like product that can then be used to produce a variety of hydrocarbon based fuels.
Bio-Hydrogen
Bio-Hydrogen is made in a process similar to bio-crude but where the resulting gas is used rather than condensed.