Biodigestor uma experiência esquecida: o caso da desativação do biodigestor do centro de ciências agrárias/UFPB

Abstract

The biodigester is a piece of equipment that transforms waste into biogas and biofertilizers. This occurs due to an anaerobic process, where bacteria digest organic matter, generating gas. The Center for Agricultural Sciences (CCA) has three inactive biodigesters. The objective of this study was to analyze the factors that led to the deactivation of the biodigesters at the Center for Agricultural Sciences and the students' perceptions about the importance of this equipment for the institution. The study follows a qualitative and quantitative approach, that is, a mixed method. Three interviews and a questionnaire were conducted with students from all undergraduate courses at CCA from the seventh period onwards. The first biodigesters were built in 1977, a project by Indian professor Kuzhiparambil Prakasan, motivated by the oil crisis of the 1970s. However, due to a car accident, Professor Prakasan died, and Professor Américo Perazzo took over. However, with their retirement in 2012, the biodigesters were deactivated due to a lack of specialists in the area to perform their maintenance. With the data collected, it was observed that more than 70% of the respondents were unaware of the presence of the institution's biodigesters and that there is almost absolute interest among students in understanding more about the subject. Thus, the work serves as a starting point for those interested in renewable energy, seeking more knowledge and partnerships for the development of projects that bring this technology to small producers.