Feasability – Input material

Monday, February 18th, 2013

To assure that the input substrates will have no adverse effect on the process, several parameters need to be analyzed, providing a first impression of the suitability of a product for anaerobic digestion.

Selection test

In case the waste contains impurities (e.g. municipal solid waste), a thorough pre-treatment will be necessary. A selection test will allow to evaluate this pre-treatment by sorting the waste in different fractions (plastics, glass, stone, sand, organics). This selection test provides the necessary info to decide what settings of the pre-treatment facility result in the most suited waste composition for AD.

Lab-scale silage test

Many input substrates are not year-round available for anaerobic digestion. In order to still allow for a continuous feeding to the AD-process, storage of these input substrates is necessary. Ensiling is a technique which has been successfully used in agriculture for many decades to preserve e.g. maize and grass.

Lab-scale silage test (1) OWS has developed a test that simulates the silage process on a small scale, which allows to investigate the effect of different silage conditions and additives for a specific substrate or combination of substrates. Also the effect of the silage process on the biogas and methane yield can be evaluated.

About DRANCO nv

About DRANCO nv

DRANCO nv is a world leading company in the construction and operation of anaerobic digestion plants and in organic waste management consultancy.