Low-Cost Polyethylene Tube Digesters in Bolivia

Brief description of the technology

Low-cost household bio digesters at the present moment have a cost between 93,- € and 148,- €. To operate a digester, the producer has to charge it day to day with 20 kg of cow dung (or other animal dung), mixed with 60 liters of water. Once the bio digester starts its operation (between 30 to 60 days), produces daily around 4 and 5 hours of biogas, for cooking or other applications like use of gas lamps. Furthermore the digester provides daily 80 liters of ecologic fertilizer which helps to increase the production of agriculture. The digester system has a pressure between 8 and 20 cm of water column.

The low-cost household bio digesters possess a triple win situation:

• In the economic sense; the producer does not have to buy liquid gas or chemical fertilizer.
• In the health sense; the family is not exposed to health treats by exhaust gas by cooking.
• In the ecological sense; the environment threat is reduced due to the decrease in the use of chemical fertilizers and organic waste exposures. Furthermore, it also helps with reduction of the deforestation by consumption of firewood.