2024 Capability Portfolio Digital | Page 40

Clean Energy Capability Portfolio | Clean Fuels

Anaerobic Digestion for

Biogas Production

Energy in the form of methane in biogas can be harvested through anaerobic digestion of organic solids derived from wastewater , food or agriculture . Microorganisms are self-replicating catalysts responsible for initial organic matter decay in transit and storage , and for hydrolysis , acidification , acetogenesis and methanogenesis in the anaerobic digestion process . Control over the activity of microorganisms in anaerobic digestion provides gains in organic feedstock throughput , and therefore , revenue .

Competitive Advantage

• Microbiology expertise in anaerobic processes with experience in manipulating the microbiology of anaerobic organic waste decomposition to enhance biogas production

Impact

• Enhanced biogas production from anaerobic digestion facilities operated by water and waste utilities and agriculture

Successful Applications

• Laboratory scale demonstration of enhanced biogas production from food waste ( Earthpower )

Our Collaborators

• Biogas Energy
• Earthpower

More Information

Professor Michael Manefield School of Civil and Environmental Engineering T : + 61 2 9385 5355 E : manefield @ unsw . edu . au
• Field demonstration of enhanced biogas production from coal ( Biogas Energy )

Capabilities and Facilities

• In-house PC1 and PC2 laboratories for manipulating and analysing complex communities of microorganisms in biogas production
• Access to high-end DNA , RNA and protein ( omics ) analysis
• Methane potential testing

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