Our first research collaboration - RecyclaR LLC

Enhancing research through open collaboration

    One of the big holdups in advancing public awareness of science and innovation is a general lack of transparency in ongoing research. To bridge this gap, LaboratoryMike.com is setting itself up as a hub for truly open collaboration between schools, labs, and companies, where all people can view the process and take part if they choose. Today, we're proud to announce that LaboratoryMike.com and RecyclaR LLC are teaming up to produce new resources on the topic of waste-to-fuel innovations via anaerobic digestion, and on the topic of bio-renewable energy in general.

About our collaboration

    Anaerobic digestion is the process by which waste biomass is converted into methane, the principal component of natural gas. The process is extremely simple; keep the biomass in an oxygen-free environment and a reasonable temperature (room temp to a hot day), and bacteria in the biomass will decompose it into gas. There is no further input needed; just let it go. If used correctly, this is a wonderul way to convert wastes (grass clippings, manure, food waste) into energy and fertilizer.

    If not used correctly, this process is very dangerous. Take the typical American pig farm for example. The pigs deficate onto a grate floor, and the manure falls through the grating into what is essentially a giant pit. Marginally more sophisticated farms have pipes running into a cesspit just outside the barn. In both cases, methane gas wafts up into the air in a very explosive form, such that turning on the lights in the barn might send the barn, the pigs, and the unfortunate farmer sky-high. In the summer, acid gases can waft up and burn the lungs of anyone or anything unfortunate enough to be in the barn. This situation is an ongoing disaster, and a pollution and public health nightmare for anyone living near the farm (and did we mention the smell?).

    RecyclaR is looking to counter these and many other manure-related problems by anerobically digesting manure into gas and fertilizer, and cleaning up the gas to remove the pollutants and leave behind clean-burning methane. If you'll take a moment to look at our digester calculator, you'll see that a typical American farm is producing a lot of renewable natural gas (also called biogas), and it's gas that could be contributing to energy security instead of global warming.

    Our collaboration with LaboratoryMike.com will focus mainly on sharing simple estimation calculators that let people estimate cost and revenues from producing biogas from manure, and for producing biodiesel from waste vegetable oil. With more time we may also post videos showing how the processes work.

Become a collaborator

If you would like to become a collaborator with LaboratoryMike.com, please contact us by email. Anyone is allowed to share resources for free by default, but collaborators will be mentioned specifically under the appropriate "About Us" page, and we also blog on our ongoing collaborations.