Hyderabad: Scientists at BITS Pilani’s Hyderabad campus have created a new system that transforms everyday waste into usable fuel. Their invention turns things like food scraps and sewage into biogas, a type of fuel that mainly consists of methane, reports Telangana Today.
The team, led by Professor P Sankar Ganesh, developed a machine called iSTAR. This machine uses a process to break down organic waste and turn it into biogas. “Our machine can handle all sorts of waste, from garbage from homes to waste from landfills,” Professor Ganesh explained.
The iSTAR system is very efficient. “It turns about 85% of the waste into biogas, and that biogas is 60-70% methane,” he said. The machine also produces other useful byproducts, like fertilizer.
This new technology works quickly and doesn’t take up a lot of space. It also has a remote monitoring system that keeps track of things like temperature and acidity. “We can fix any problems that come up right away,” Professor Ganesh added. “And we don’t need to add extra water, unless we’re using very dry waste.”
According to the team, their iSTAR machine can produce 10,000 liters of biogas from 100 kilograms of waste each day. “That’s like getting 92 cooking gas cylinders in a year,” said Professor Ganesh.
“This machine is simple to build and use,” he continued. “Anyone can operate it, even cleaning staff.” Professor Ganesh believes this technology could be used in cities, towns, restaurants, schools, and apartment complexes. “People who install these machines can even get money back from the government,” he said.
