What's that Smell?

Submitted by Juanno on Sat, 2010/05/08 - 20:17.

The benefits of naturally produced gas for household use are economic and environmental, however a program in Rivas to encourage the use of biodigesters (using pig and cattle manure) has been slow in starting because women there believe that the gas gives off a different and bad smell and taints the food.

Anyone with any previous experience with this issue of the bad smell. Is it true, can it be changed?

I was thinking that if they put something in propane to make it smell (it is otherwise odour free and therefore more dangerous), can something or the same thing be out in the gas line nearer the stove to "sweeten it".

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Bubbling...

Submitted by Doug on Tue, 2010/05/11 - 12:11.

the gas through water may help,

try throwing some perfume in it too :)

-Doug ©

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate

Of course, a methane "Bong"

Submitted by Juanno on Tue, 2010/05/11 - 12:23.

Should have thought of that!

Mango water or perhaps Manzanillo could extract or "replace" some of the smell.

I can see the headline now...."Gringo Blows up Half of Rivas in Suspicious Pig Manure Bong Experiment"

If you can't stand the stink

Submitted by nicareal on Tue, 2010/05/11 - 12:33.

don't use it.

Without stink, no gas.

Remember the best cheeses stink.

If you step in it, just scrape it off the sole, take it home and turn it into something hot.

It works so well you can smell it for miles.

But is it true that it taints the food?

Submitted by Juanno on Tue, 2010/05/11 - 13:13.

I know that my favorite friole lady cooks em over a smokey fire, lid off, and they take on a greet flavor, the best beans in SJdS.

So maybe the pig manure gas can taint the food.

The post was about that, getting over the hurdle of change.

I was just commenting on your bong post but

Submitted by nicareal on Tue, 2010/05/11 - 13:52.

if you wish to get serious, I can't imagine that there would be much if any smell to the gas.

Methane gas is pretty well odorless. Unlike smoke from a wood fire, there are no carbon particles settling in the pot. It is those minute particles that give the smoky flavor.

If you can find out who uses it, why not visit with them and see how it works? I might just come with you. Curiosity and the cat ....

Alternatives

Submitted by fyl on Mon, 2010/05/10 - 15:26.

While caca-based digesters are common, one such as this type has attracted my interest. It uses kitchen waste. Makes more sense as this article indicates.

It can also be scaled. See what the Indian government came up with.