Ncert Exercises & Solutions

9. Do you think microbes can also be used as source of energy? If yes, how?

Yes, microbes can be used as a source of energy. Bacteria such as Methane

bacterium is used for the generation of gobar gas or biogas.

The generation of biogas is an anaerobic process in a biogas plant, which

consists of a concrete tank (10−15 feet deep) with sufficient outlets and

inlets. The dung is mixed with water to form the slurry and thrown into the

tank. The digester of the tank is filled with numerous anaerobic methaneproducing bacteria, which produce biogas from the slurry.

Biogas can be

removed through the pipe which is then used as a source of energy, while

the spent slurry is removed from the outlet and is used as a fertilizer.