ABSTRACT
This chapter evaluates the anaerobic digestion technologies practiced in developing countries in the context of technological, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. It discusses the different feedstocks, reactor configurations, performance and operational problems, technology dissemination, and the multiple benefits of anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion technology at the household level has been largely practiced in India and other parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and the driving force is government involvement in the subsidy, planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of biogas plants. Continuous-flow biogas digesters are mainly used for the treatment of animal manure and human waste in slurry form. Floating-drum digesters produce biogas at a constant pressure with variable volume, and also from the position of the drum, the amount of biogas accumulated under the drum is easily detectable. The feedstock to the dry-batch digester can be a mixture of straw and cow dung, food waste, market waste, aquatic weed, and other agricultural residues.
