IIT-B creates biomethanation plant at campus

Mumbai: In a bid to address waste disposal at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) campus, the alumni of the Class of 1990 has created a biomethanation plant with a capacity of 2 tonnes per day. The plant, which was inaugurated Saturday by the director of the institute Prof. Devang Khakhar, will treat the food waste generated from the hostel mess. It is said that this will reduce 25 per cent of the LPG cylinder requirement for cooking food in the hostels.

Biomethanation is a process by which organic material is microbiologically converted under anaerobic conditions into biogas. The three main physiological groups of microrganisms involved are: fermenting bacteria, organic acid oxidising bacteria, and methanogenic archaea. Biomethanation has strong potential for the production of energy from organic residues and wastes. It is said to help reduce the use of fossil fuels and thus reduce carbon dioxide.

“Biomethanation plant can be used to partially or fully substitute energy requirement like, cooking LPG gas, steam, electricity, thermal oil and chilling. Furthermore, the nutrient-rich fertilisers can be used for agricultural purposes. However, since it is inside the campus, our plant will be able to treat 2 tonnes of food waste generated from the mess of hostels 12, 13, 14 and nearby hostels per day,” a note from IIT-B said.

During the inauguration ceremony of the biomethanation plant, dean (IPS) prof. B.V.S Viswanadham; dean (ACR) prof. Suhas Joshi; alumni of the Class of 1990 Anu Narasimhan and Ravi Shankar; Dr B.S. Patil, public health officer of IIT-B; and other officers and staff of the institute were present. “We will remain indebted to alumni of class of 1990 for this wonderful green initiative. This initiative will help address waste disposal and lead to generation of sustainable renewable energy,” the note added.