What percentage of methane is typically found in a well-functioning anaerobic digester?

A well-functioning anaerobic digester typically produces biogas that consists primarily of methane, carbon dioxide, and trace gases. The percentage of methane in the biogas can be an indicator of the efficiency of the digestion process.

In a healthy anaerobic digestion system, the methane content usually falls within the range of 65-75%. This range indicates that the system is effectively breaking down organic matter through microbial activity, with a significant portion of the generated biogas being methane—an important and valuable energy source.

Higher percentages of methane, such as those in the 70-80% or 80-90% ranges, might suggest that the digester is operating under optimal temperature and pH conditions, or it could indicate a low level of carbon dioxide and other gases. However, achieving consistently high methane levels can be challenging, particularly for varied feedstock, which may contain different organic materials that can influence gas production dynamics.

Consequently, the range of 65-75% is recognized as typical and indicates that the anaerobic digester is functioning well and producing biogas that is suitable for further processing or utilization.