From Trash to Gas: Biomass Energy

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From Trash to Gas: Biomass Energy

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Abstract
Hav e y ou ev er dreamed of a world where y ou could take the scraps f rom last night's dinner and toss them into y our car's f uel tank
and make gas? Well, we're not quite in "Back to the Future" y et, but in this energy science f air project, y ou'll discov er that f ood
scraps, dead plants, sawdust, and other decay ing organic matter, called biomass are a rich source of energy . Y ou can get energy out
of biomass by burning it, turning it into a liquid, or by turning it into a gas called biogas. Y ou'v e probably burned biomass (like dead
wood) bef ore if y ou'v e ev er built a campf ire, and y ou'v e seen biogas being produced if y ou'v e ev er watched cows happily munching
on green grass. The cows eat a ty pe of biomass (grass or hay ) and turn it into the biogas, methane, in their digestiv e tracts. In this
energy science f air project, y ou'll compare the amounts of biogas produced by dif f erent ty pes of biomass.

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Objective

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To compare the amount of biogas that is produced f rom dif f erent ty pes of biomass.

Microorganisms Safety Guide

Introduction
It can be f un to take a driv e through the beautif ul country side on a summer day , with the windows rolled down and y our hair f ly ing in
the breeze. If y ou driv e past a cattle f arm though, y ou may be inclined to roll y our windows back up! Although the smell of manure
f rom cows and other ruminants can be strong and unpleasant, the waste is a rich source of energy that can be used to run the f arm.
Manure is not the only waste that is a rich source of energy . What y ou might think is "just garbage," might actually be turned into
energy . Dead plants, rotting f ood, wood chips, sawdust, lef tov er crops, nut shells, and paper products are all examples of biomass,
which are natural materials or organic matter that can be used to make energy .
Is it hard to get energy out of biomass? No; in f act, people hav e been doing it f or thousands of y ears. If y ou'v e ev er sat around a
campf ire or f ireplace, y ou'v e been warmed by burning biomass. Biomass can be burned on a larger scale to create electricity . Biomass
(such as decay ing plant matter, f arm waste, wood waste, or industrial waste) is brought by large trucks to a huge incinerator where it is
burned and the heat is used to boil water, create stream, and driv e a steam generator that can produce electricity . Biomass energy is
considered a f orm of renewable energy, meaning it can be replaced by nature. Biomass energy , along with other renewable sources,
like hydroelectric, solar, geothermal, and wind energy , prov ide 7 percent of the total energy needs of the United States, and that
percentage is expected to rise.
What other way s, besides burning, can y ou get energy out of biomass? Y ou can turn it into a liquid or a gas. Turning it into a liquid
inv olv es a process called fermentation, which changes some f orms of biomasslike corn, sugarcane, or switchgrassinto an
alcohol-based f uel, called ethanol, which can power cars and be used as cooking f uel. Turning it into a gas is basically what cows do
naturally in their digestiv e sy stem, using bacteria to change biomass into methane, which is the main component in natural gas.
Natural gas is an important f uel f or heating homes; running stov es, ov ens, and dry ers; producing electricity and fertilizers; and
running special cars and trucks. When made f rom biomass, natural gas is called biogas.
In aerobic sportslike running, walking, swimming, dancing, and bicy clingoxygen is used to generate the energy needed to continue
the phy sical activ ity f or a long period of time. For the creation of biogas, the opposite ty pe of env ironment is needed to generate
energy . Biogas is made by special anaerobic bacteria, microorganisms that liv e in env ironments without oxy gen. The anaerobic
bacteria break down the biomass into methane in a series of processes called anaerobic digestion. Biogas can be tapped directly
f rom landfills,where sanitation workers dump and cov er up ev ery one's trash, or f rom biogas generators where f armers or engineers
mix biomass with anaerobic bacteria.
In this energy science f air project, y ou'll explore what kinds of biomass are good at making biogas. Y ou'll f ill empty soda bottles with
dif f erent ty pes of biomass, seal each bottle with a balloon, and measure the inf lation of the balloons ov er sev eral day s to see which
ty pe of biomass creates the most biogas.

Terms, Concepts and Questions to Start Background Research

Manure
Ruminant
Energy

Proj ect Summary

Difficulty

4 6

Time
required

Long (a couple of weeks)

Prerequisites

This science fair project requires

access to a well-ventilated area,
away from open flame or electrical
sparks.

Material
Availability

A small quantity of fresh cow

manure is required.

Cost

Low ($20 - $50)

Safety

This science fair project produces

a small amount of a flammable
gas, so it must be conducted in a
well-ventilated area, away from any
source of open flame or source of
electrical sparks. Use caution and
have an adult's help when using
the bleach, as it can cause
chemical burns.

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Biomass
Organic matter
Steam generator
Renewable energy
Hy droelectric
Geothermal
Liquid
Gas
Fermentation
Ethanol
Methane
Natural gas
Fertilizer
Biogas
Aerobic
Anaerobic bacteria
Microorganism
Anaerobic digestion

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Landf ill
Biogas generator
Global warming
Carbon-neutral
Delignif ication
Lignin
Negativ e control

Questions
How can y ou get energy out of biomass?
Does biomass energy impact global warming?
Is biomass energy a carbon-neutral source of energy ?
What is special about the bacteria that make biogas?

Bibliography
These sources describes what biomass is and how it can be used to make energy :
Energy Inf ormation Administration. (2007, Nov ember). Energy Kid's Page: BiomassRenewable Energy from Plants and Animals. Retriev ed February 26, 2009, f rom
http://www.eia.doe.gov /kids/energy f acts/sources/renewable/biomass.html
Calif ornia Energy Commission. (2006). Chapter 10: Biomass Energy. Retriev ed January 24, 2009, f rom http://www.energy quest.ca.gov /story /chapter10.html
National Renewable Energy Laboratory . (2008, July 25). Biomass Energy Basics. Retriev ed January 31, 2009, f rom http://www.nrel.gov /learning/re_biomass.html
This source describes the dif f erent ty pes of renewable energy and the role each play s in the United States:
Energy Inf ormation Administration. (2007, Nov ember). Energy Kid's Page: Renewable Energy. Retriev ed February 26, 2009, f rom http://www.eia.doe.gov /kids/energy f acts
/sources/renewable/renewable.html
This source describes what biogas is, how it is made, and how to build a biogas generator:
The Pembina Institute. (2007). Build Your Own Biogas Generator. Retriev ed February 9, 2009, f rom http://www.scribd.com/doc/8679538/Build-Y our-Own-Biogas-Generator
This source describes how a Calif ornia power, gas, and electric company gets auto f uel f rom cow manure:
Env ironmental Leader. (2008, March 5). PG&E Gets Energy from Cow Manure. Retriev ed January 31, 2009, f rom http://www.env ironmentalleader.com/2008/03/05/pgegets-energy -f rom-cow-manure/
Visit these pages, f rom PG&E, a Calif ornia power, gas, and electric company , f or more inf ormation about electricity :
Pacif ic Gas and Electric Company . (2002). Electricity Generation and Distribution. Retriev ed March 4, 2009, f rom http://www.pge.com/microsite/pge_dgz
/more/electricity _gen.html
Pacif ic Gas and Electric Company . (2002). Alternative Energy Sources. Retriev ed March 4, 2009, f rom http://www.pge.com/microsite/pge_dgz/more/alternativ e.html
For inf ormation about white rot f ungus, particularly if y ou try one of the Variations f ound at the end of this science f air project, check out this website:
Biggs, A.R., Ry tter, J.L., and Trav is, J.W. (n.d.). White Rot. Retriev ed March 1, 2009, f rom http://www.caf .wv u.edu/Kearney sv ille/disease_descriptions/omwhiter.html
For help creating graphs, try this website:
National Center f or Education Statistics (n.d.). Create a Graph. Retriev ed February 26, 2009, f rom http://nces.ed.gov /nceskids/CreateAGraph/def ault.aspx

Materials and Equipment

Soda bottles, 2-L, empty and clean (9)
Masking tape
Wax paper
Scissors
Disposable glov es; av ailable at drug stores
Fresh cow manure, approximately 1 cup; av ailable f rom f arms and some petting zoos. To f ind a small, local dairy f arm, try this source: www.realmilk.com/where2.html
Kitchen scale, capable of distinguishing between 1-g quantities, or a mini balance scale and weights; av ailable f rom www.sciencekit.com, catalog #WW17115M04.
Two ty pes of biomass, approximately 1 cup of each:
a. Uncooked, chopped-up v egetable peelings (can be all one ty pe of v egetable or mixed v egetables)
b. Mashed banana
Latex balloons, large, round (9)
Distilled water (20 L), av ailable at grocery and drug stores
Kitchen f unnel
Bleach
Tape measure, cloth or v iny l, metric
Lab notebook
Graph paper
Disclaimer: Science Buddies participates in the Science Education Af f iliate Network (SEAN). For more inf ormation, v isit our Science Fair Supplies & Materials page.

Experimental Procedure
Preparing the Soda Bottles for Filling
1. Wash and dry the soda bottles. Throw their caps away .
2. With masking tape and a pen, label three of the bottles Cow Manure.
3. With masking tape and a pen, label three of the bottles Cow Manure + Vegetable Peelings.

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4. With masking tape and a pen, label three of the bottles Cow Manure + Mashed Banana.
5. Cut out 15 small, equally sized (approximately 1-inch) squares of wax paper to use with y our mini balance scale. These small papers will be placed on the scale bef ore y ou take
each measurement. They will help y ou carry y our biomass f rom the scale to the bottles, and will help keep y our scale and hands clean.

Preparing Cow M anure Bottles

1. Put on a pair of glov es.
2. Lay one of the pieces of wax paper on the balance scale, and measure out 10 g of cow manure on top of it. Place the 10 g of cow manure (not the wax paper) in one of the
soda bottles labeled Cow Manure. Throw the piece of wax paper away .
3. Repeat step 2 until all three bottles with this label hav e each been f illed with 10 g of cow manure.

Preparing Cow M anure + Vegetable Peelings and Cow M anure + M ashed Banana Bottles
1. Using the balance scale and a f resh piece of wax paper, measure out 5 g of cow manure and place the 5 g of cow manure (not the wax paper) inside one of the soda bottles
labeled Cow Manure + Vegetable Peelings. Throw the piece of wax paper away . Repeat this step until all three bottles with this label hav e 5 g of cow manure inside.
2. Using the balance scale and a f resh piece of wax paper, measure out 5 g of v egetable peelings and place the 5 g of peelings inside one of the bottles labeled
Cow Manure + Vegetable Peelings. Throw the piece of wax paper away . Repeat this step until all three bottles with this label hav e 5 g of v egetable peelings inside.
3. Repeat steps 12 f or the Cow Manure + Mashed Banana bottles, substituting mashed banana f or the v egetable peelings.
4. Take of f y our lab glov es and throw them away . Wash y our hands with soap and warm water, and dry them well. Put on a f resh pair of lab glov es.

Finishing the Bottles

1. Place the f unnel in one of the soda bottles.
2. Caref ully f ill the bottle to the top with distilled water. Pour v ery slowly as y ou near the top so that the bottle does not ov erf low.
3. Cov er the mouth of the f illed soda bottle with an uninf lated balloon and secure the balloon at the mouth of the soda bottle with a strip of duct tape.
4. Repeat steps 13 until all soda bottles hav e been f illed and topped with balloons.
5. Take of f y our lab glov es and throw them away . Wash y our hands with soap and warm water. Because y ou were working with waste, it's important to thoroughly clean the scale,
f unnel, and work area with a bleach solution. Rev iew the Science Buddies Microorganisms Saf ety Guide f or more inf ormation.

Testing the Bottles

1. Place the soda bottles in a well-v entilated area, away f rom open f lame or sparks of electricity , such as outdoors on a porch or balcony .
2. Each day , at approximately the same time, use the measuring tape to measure the circumf erence (in mm) of each balloon, at its f ullest part. Record the date, time, and
measurements in a data table in y our lab notebook.
3. Repeat step 2 f or a total of 12 day s.

Analyzing Your Data Table

1. For the bottles labeled Cow Manure, make a graph that plots the circumf erences of the balloons on the y -axis and the day number (112) on the x-axis. Y ou can make the
graph by hand or use a website like Create a Graph to make the graph on a computer and print it.
2. For the bottles labeled Cow Manure + Vegetable Peelings, make a graph that plots the circumf erences of the balloons on the y -axis and the day number (112) on the x-axis.
3. For the bottles labeled Cow Manure + Mashed Banana, plot the circumf erences of the balloons on the y -axis and the day number (112) on the x-axis.
4. Comparing the three graphs, which ty pe of biomass produced the fastest inf lation of the balloons? Which ty pe of biomass produced the greatest inf lation of the balloons?

Variations
Inv estigate how the f ollowing af f ect biogas production:
a. Temperature
b. pH
c. Antibiotics
d. Detergent
Using the resources in the Bibliography , abov e, and with the help of an adult, dev ise a way to test whether the biogas y ou produced is f lammable.
Biogas production can be increased by delignification (remov ing lignin) in the biomass bef ore putting it into the biogas generator. One way to achiev e delignif ication of a
biomass is through white rot fungus. For more inf ormation about white rot f ungus, check out the Bibliography , abov e. Compare the biogas production of the same biomass with
and without an initial treatment of white rot f ungus.
Add negative controls to the main experiment abov e by including six additional test bottles. Fill three of the bottles with 5 gm of mashed banana only (add no manure), and
three of the bottles with 5 gm of v egetable peelings only (add no manure). Add distilled water to the bottles, then seal and test them with the other nine bottles, as directed
abov e. How do y our negativ e controls compare to the mashed banana and v egetable peelings test bottles that do contain cow manure? What happened with the addition of the
cow manure? What component of the cow manure do y ou think accounts f or the dif f erences?
For more science project ideas in this area of science, see Energy & Power Project Ideas.

Credits
Kristin Strong, Science Buddies
This science f air project idea was based on an 8th grade, f irst-prize-winning project:
Osegueda, A. (2005, October). Retriev ed January 31, 2009, f rom http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/f air/sciencef air.pdf
Last edit date: 2009-02-26 09:58:00

Career Focus
If y ou like this project, y ou might enjoy exploring careers in Energy & Power.
Chemical Engineer
Chemical engineers solve the problems that affect our everyday lives by applying the principles of chemistry. If you enjoy working in a
chemistry laboratory and are interested in developing useful products for people, then a career as a chemical engineer might be in your
future.

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