OPTI_AGV (SPW-DGO4, 2016-2019)

Integration of electrodialysis with anaerobic digestion, as a tool to improve and provide flexibility in the production of biogas, electricity and biofuels

Partner: CERISIC

In the context of valorizing biomass and biowastes as a source of renewable energy through biomethanation, the research aims at integrating the bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BM-ED) technology with the anaerobic digestion process. This integration is expected to provide management flexibility and improve the profitability of anaerobic digestion plants. With limited electric power consummed only when cheap electricity is available (e.g. during periods of wind or photovoltaic production surplus ...) and using heat from the biogas powered engines at times low demand, the BM-ED technology will allow to provide enriched solutions able:
- to improve the kinetics and yield of the acidogenic fermentation (a step of the conversion of the substrates into methane) and the concentration of produced carboxylates;
- improve the digestibility of lignocellulosic substrates;
- build stable, long-term stocks of intermediate substances that can be quickly converted to methane and electricity.