REUSE OF WASTE FOR ENERGY GENERATION (BIOSYSTEM)
A biosystem is a facility that uses a biodigester to process organic waste, such as food scraps, animal manure and human feces, through an anaerobic process. This process transforms the waste into biogas and natural fertilizer. The biogas, which is filtered and stored in the equipment itself, can be used as cooking gas, providing up to 3 hours of gas per day. In addition to biogas, the system also generates a natural fertilizer, which is collected in a container located at the back of the equipment and can be used to fertilize crops.
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PROBLEM SOLVED
Few traditional communities in Brazil have adequate sanitation systems and face significant challenges in accessing reliable and low-cost energy sources. Many of these communities rely on firewood, charcoal or commercial cooking gas, which are not only expensive but also environmentally harmful and often inconsistent in terms of availability. The absence of adequate sanitation systems results in poor sanitary conditions, increasing the risk of disease and negatively impacting quality of life. The lack of adequate sanitation is directly linked to public health problems, such as gastrointestinal infections and waterborne diseases.
In addition, reliance on firewood and charcoal not only contributes to deforestation and environmental degradation, but also poses a health risk due to the inhalation of smoke and particulates. Commercial cooking gas is often expensive and not consistently available, which exacerbates the energy vulnerability of these communities. Therefore, the implementation of renewable energy systems can provide a more sustainable and reliable source of energy.
SOLUTION ADOPTED
The Integrated Biosystem consists of a combination of anaerobic and aerobic sewage treatment stages, integrated with productive systems for recycling nutrients. Aligned with the principles of ecological sanitation and permaculture, this system represents a change in the concept of the productive model, abandoning the linear form of production in favor of an integrated system that produces renewable energy through the transformation of waste into raw material. Our waste is rich in nutrients that the organism has not fully utilized and can be reused by other organisms as food, instead of being wasted and contaminating water bodies.
The main advantage of this technology is its flexibility, as the components are adaptable to individual circumstances. For the implementation of the project, due to the sanitary conditions of the site, the use of an Integrated Biosystem composed of a biodigester, followed by an anaerobic filter and a root zone was determined. The ferti-irrigation of fruit trees will be the final step to close the nutrient cycle. Other types of equipment can be tested integrated with the biodigester as a post-treatment step, such as the Evapotranspiration Tank or the planting of emergent plants on a floating coconut fiber mattress. This system not only treats waste efficiently, but also transforms what would otherwise be pollution into valuable resources, promoting a sustainable cycle of production and consumption.
RESULT ACHIEVED
The construction of the biosystem of the Community Restaurant of Quilombo do Campinho was an integral part of the course "Health in Traditional Territories: Social Technologies in Sanitation", used as a teaching resource for the construction of the restaurant's biosystem. The entire sanitation process and construction of the biodigester was carried out in dialogue with the Residents' Association of Quilombo do Campinho da Independência (AMOQC) and has been used daily in the restaurant.
The final stage involves the laboratory analysis of 17 parameters of the effluent in all stages of the biosystem, of the biogas produced in the biodigester and of the taro present in the planted anaerobic filter and in the fertility centers. The analyses are performed at delimited intervals to establish analytical parameters and to measure the efficiency of the biosystem.
Preliminarily, according to the first laboratory analysis of effluents, it can be stated that the biosystem presents excellent efficiency. The results demonstrated a 99% removal of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), which is the main parameter in effluent treatment systems. The system has been working perfectly, confirming its effectiveness and contributing significantly to the sustainability and environmental health of Quilombo do Campinho.