I ask this because I had heard that one can collect methane gas from bio wastes (such as cow manure) and burn the resulting gas for energy production. A product of burning one molecule of methane is one molecule of carbon dioxide.
So bottom line: is it a good idea to collect and use methane from bio waste sources? It can help alleviate dependence on other forms of energy, yet still produces carbon dioxide when burned.
2006-08-13 16:48:02 · 6 answers · asked by Ubi 5 in Environment
Some excellent responses... Best Answer will be a tough call to choose.
2006-08-14 05:24:50 · update #1
It is certainly a good idea.
First, methane is a much stronger greenhouse gas than is CO2.
But even if methane was not a greenhouse gas, it would still be a good idea. Because eventually, methane degrades into CO2, whether you do it in your burner or let the atmosphere do it naturally. But if you don't burn it, you would have to burn some other fuel instead for your energy needs, producing the same amount of CO2, plus the natural break-down of the methane. In total, twice as much CO2.
2006-08-13 21:03:38 · answer #1 · answered by helene_thygesen 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Methane is 20 times more in CO2 in absorbing solar heat (green house effect). But the production of methane gas is limited. Also CO2 emission level is very high.
So if we burn CH4 and convert it to H2O and CO2, it will help the atmosphere. The resulting energy can be used productively. Indeed none of the industries as ETP plants etc are not allowed to emit methane directly to atmosphere. They either use the energy as methane is a clean fuel (no by products or fouling) or burn it as a flame over the chimeney.
But whenever we hear seminars etc. we usually learn about CO2, this is because methane emission is negligible from human activities. CO2 has a lot of sources from which it is getting constantly emitted.
2006-08-13 20:57:43 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Methane is a much "better" greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. You'd rather have an equivalent amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
2006-08-13 19:24:05 · answer #3 · answered by Jim S 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
methane will eventually break down in the atmosphere but it breaks down to CO2. So effectively methane is worse as it is a greenhoue gas in 2 forms not just one.
2006-08-13 17:11:31 · answer #4 · answered by salty_pearl 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well think about it. humans convert oxygen into carbon dioxide.
we arent always inhaling pure oxygen, some of it is the carbon dioxide from your last breath.
so by process of elimination, methane HAS to be worse.
2006-08-13 16:55:58 · answer #5 · answered by shelleyluvzboyz 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To the atmosphere, CO2.
To us, probably methane
2006-08-13 16:53:47 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋