What is BioTRIG?

March 1, 2024

A recent study has claimed that BioTRIG, a new waste management technology could help rural Indians.

About BioTRIG:

  • It is a new waste management technology based on the pyrolysis system.
  • It works by sealing the waste inside an oxygen-free chamber and heating it above 400 degrees Celsius. Useful chemicals are produced in the process.
  • In the study, the researchers outlined that three products of pyrolysis — bio-oil, syngas and biochar fertiliser — could help rural Indians live healthier and greener lives.
  • Significance
    • The syngas and bio-oil facilitate heat and power the pyrolysis system in future cycles and surplus electricity is utilized to power local homes and businesses.
    • The clean-burning bio-oil to replace dirty cooking fuels in homes and using biochar to store carbon, while improving soil fertility.
    • Computer simulations showed that the BioTRIG system could also be effective in real-world applications.
    • It could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from communities by nearly 350 kg of CO2-eq per capita per annum.
    • It could help rural Indians cut indoor air pollution, improve soil health, and generate clean power

What is Pyrolysis?

  • It is a kind of chemical recycling that turns leftover organic materials into their component molecules.
  • It works by sealing the waste inside an oxygen-free chamber and heating it to more than 400 degrees Celsius, producing useful chemicals in the process.