Pacific Southwest, Region 9
Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations
Organics: Anaerobic Digestion
Science
Anaerobically digesting organic carbon involves a plethora of naturally occurring bacteria. The many different species of bacteria break down complex organic molecules through a four-phased process: first hydrolysis, then acidogenesis, followed by acetogenesis, and lastly methanogenesis.
Bacteria break down of complex organic molecules
The main products of this biological process are biogas and a solid residual. Biogas is comprised mostly of methane and carbon dioxide and can be used as a fuel source.