Cardiff-based biotech company Genesis Biosciences has developed a novel, cost-effective and low site footprint solution to convert waste products into energy faster than currently possible while drastically reducing net energy consumption and final waste volumes.
Genesis’ Biogas Additive was developed at its South Wales laboratories by experts in the fields of microbiology and chemical engineering and is the latest product in the company’s range of innovative microbial solutions. The granulated powder enhances the performance of anaerobic digestion (AD) systems – which use bacteria to break down organic matter such as human waste, manure and food without oxygen – by increasing their biogas yields by as much as 100% and reducing the levels of undigested waste sludge disposed to landfill by half.*
Dr. Chris Charles, Senior Research Scientist and WWT Specialist at Genesis Biosciences, explains: “With a growing demand on companies and authorities to better their environmental credentials, decrease their waste and lower their CO2 emissions, AD and practices such as sludge-to-land are now being touted as circular economy champions.
“The ability to take human and other waste streams such as agricultural and food, and turn it into both energy and a fertiliser is attractive from a commercial aspect and a palatable ‘green’ concept that the general public can both understand and appreciate.
“Following the addition of the Evogen Biogas Additive to the waste material, the biogas conversion rate is accelerated, the volume of undigested sludge is reduced, and the biogas yield is significantly increased, resulting in lower running costs and a greater financial return. By partnering interacting Bacillus microorganisms with diverse extracellular enzyme profiles, we can ensure that our additive performs across a broad spectrum of organic substrates from sewerage sludge to agricultural and food wastes.”
Anaerobic digestion is fast becoming an integral part of the wastewater treatment process amongst local authorities and private companies. The ability to use microorganisms to produce methane rich biogas from sewage sludge and organic waste matter offers the potential to produce heat and electricity from an ever present and growing waste source.
To find out more about AD, or for more information about Genesis Biosciences and the range of waste water treatment solutions they offer, visit http://genesisbiosciences.co.uk/wastewater.
