Description
Biogas is the product of an efficient and sustainable use of resources. Anaerobic digestion (AD) makes the best use of organic materials by producing biogas for the generation of renewable heat, electricity, fuel and fertiliser while closing the nutrients cycle and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The project aims to develop a biological pretreatment process for AD systems using minimal external energy input while improving biogas production. The main innovative advantage of BIOLYSIS technology entails unleashing the potential of the bacterial cultures already existent in the waste water treatment process instead of the more common approach of externally supplying energy and mechanical stress to disrupt the cells and flocs in activated sludge. This concept will lead not only to less energy consumption requirements, but also to a reduction of the sludge wastes produced by the AD. The hydrolytic pretreatment proposed will be characterized by its low operational cost due to its high energy efficiency and the reduction of the sludge transport and disposal costs. It will present a low footprint and simplicity from a design and operations perspective
Summary of project results
Development of sludge-treatment processes with low overall energy consumption and waste generation is critical to enhance the sustainability of wastewater treatment. The project’s goal was to develop a low cost pretreatment for anaerobic digestion that increased the kinetics, the efficiency of biogas generation and sludge volume by bio-augmenting hydrolytic enzymes. This was accomplished, and further steps for process validation are being undertaken by ACCIONA AGUA. In terms of the technical objectives, primary sludge (the substrate) was characterized and recommendations for operation were set. A pilot plant including an hydrolytic reactor with controlled conditions was designed and operated. The optimal conditions for organic matter dissolution, volatile fatty acid production and enzyme activity were determined (45ºC and 24 hours of hydraulic retention time). Several technical reports covering the design and operational characteristics of the novel process have been produced.
Summary of bilateral results