Profile: Micro H2AD – Small-scale fast anaerobic digestion

By -




It has been some time since I published the last post on small-scale biorefining even though I intend to devote particular attention to this topic. It is not always easy to find good contents but I will try it even more energetically in the future. For the moment, I am going to add two new references to the list and issue monographic posts with their profiles.

Today, the first one, Micro H2AD, a novel micro-scale technology for the rapid and safe disposal of organic effluent based on a fast anaerobic digestion (AD) developed by Lindhurst Innovation Engineering (LIE). I expect to publish the post about the second one next week.

Characteristics of the concept

- Modular and scalable. It is micro in scale and fully housed in 20 ft (6,1 m) shipping containers. The scalable system may be employed by the smallest SME and the largest multinational.
- Fast. It enables a 10x reduction in the time required to decrease the organic content of waste.
- Low cost. Lower CAPEX compared to traditional AD. A barrier to recycle waste generating renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions in developing countries and indeed for SMEs in developed countries is the cost of technology. Micro H2AD intends to overcome this barrier.
- It supports the circular economy business model by treating and valorizating wastes. Biogas, grey water and biofertilisers can be obtained during the process.
- Improvements achieved in liquid wastes: reduction of the chemical oxygen demand (COD); removal of total suspended solids (TSS); decreasing of the content in nitrogen, phosphorous and phosphates; reduction of the levels of nitrates, nitrites and ammonia.
- Targeted sectors: food and drink, agriculture and process industry.

Technology

Unlike traditional anaerobic digestion plants which require vast storage space and a minimum of 20 days to process the waste, Micro H2AD’s modular system uses a semi-continuous flow process that combines microbial fuel cells (MFC) and conventional AD (see Figure 1). This means material stops in the tank for no longer than 72 hours and low temperature is needed to treat waste and convert organic compounds into methane ten times faster than conventional AD processes. Micro H2AD is based on a patented bioreactor and electrode architecture.

Figure 1. Basic scheme of the Micro H2AD technology (extracted from the web page of the company)

Work methodology

Its systematic approach can be summarized as follows:

1. Audit
Micro H2AD assesses the waste effluent status via a comprehensive audit. Such audit includes analysis of effluent samples to understand standard composition and the potential biogas generation. A preliminary assessment of the potential business case is made.

2. Trial
If the preliminary assessment is positive, a trial is undertaken employing a Micro H2AD trial unit. The trial may run for 3 months or until such a time that a firm business case is established.

3. Sale/Lease
With the business case confirmed, a Micro H2AD system optimised in terms of volume is sold/leased to the customer. The Micro H2AD engineering team manufacture and install the system including all pre and post treatment equipment.

4. Maintenance
Once the Micro H2AD has been commissioned, outputs optimised and training of the plant operatives is complete, the plant is transferred to the customer. Micro H2AD remain on hand to carry out maintenance programs.

Current status

With funding from the Horizon 2020 program (Project: H2AD-aFDPI; Call for proposals: H2020-SMEINST-2-2015; From 2015-11-01 to 2017-10-31), LIE is undertaking the experimental development and field trials required to confirm predicted Micro H2AD performance and payback for several feedstocks of the agri-food and drink processing industry.

Figure 2. Micro H2AD units in process of building (extracted from CORDIS)

The field trials are being carried out within a strong collaborative framework in Spain (ainia), Denmark (Aarhus University / Arla), Ireland (IrBEA – Irish Biogas Energy Association) and UK (Castle Rock - Oakfield Farm). The tests allow to refine the LIE business model for initial market capture and medium to long-term strategies for widespread uptake and market replication.

Popular Posts

Biofuels from algae

By -
Image
In my opinion, the production of biofuels and biobased chemicals from algae is one of the most fascinating topics in the sector of the biorefineries and it will be one of the niches of opportunity with highest potential in the medium and the long terms. This post pretend to be a very basic approach to the topic Algae-to-Biofuels through three general key points. Algae 1,2,3,4,5 Algae include a wide variety of photosynthetic organisms capable of transforming light, water and specific nutrients into products that can be used with commercial and industrial purposes. We can say that algae are sunlight-driven factories with potential to convert CO 2 into biofuels, high-value biochemical, food and feed. There are four algae cultivation technologies currently in use for commercial algae cultivation and proposed for algal biofuel production: extensive or open ponds, intensive or raceway ponds, closed photobioreactors in many designs and closed fermenter systems. Algal biof
Read more

Hidrotratamiento (HVO) – Conceptos, materias primas y especificaciones

By -
Image
English version Sección: BIOCOMBUSTIBLES AVANZADOS Serie: HVO - Hidrotratamiento (HVO) – Conceptos, materias primas y especificaciones - Hidrotratamiento(HVO) – Ventajas sobre el biodiesel convencional y propiedades - Biorrefinerías de Aceites Vegetales Hidrotatados (HVO) – El auge del diésel renovable - Entradas: HVO                El acrónimo HVO significa en inglés “ Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils ” (“Aceites Vegetales Hidrotratados”) o ” Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils ” (“Aceites Vegetales Hidrogenados”). Clave del proceso: Tratamiento con hidrógeno. En el proceso de producción de HVO, el hidrógeno se usa para eliminar el oxígeno de los triglicéridos produciendo una mezcla de parafinas lineales, CO 2 y agua. Posteriormente, el producto de la primera etapa se isomeriza, siempre en presencia de hidrógeno, para ramificar las cadenas lineales con el propósito de mejorar las propiedades de flujo en frío de los productos finales. Por tanto, los HVO son
Read more

Biorrefinerías de FDCA (ácido 2,5-furanodicarboxílico)

By -
Image
Fecha de publicación: 15/06/2017 Última actualización: 24/01/2018 Introducción 1,2,3,4,5 El ácido 2,5-furanodicarboxílico (FDCA, por sus siglas en inglés), también conocido como ácido ácido piromúcico, es un compuesto orgánico que fue detectado por primera vez en la orina humana. De hecho, una persona sana genera 3-5 mg/día. Se trata de un compuesto muy estable. Algunas de sus propiedades físicas, tales como insolubilidad en la mayor parte de disolventes y un punto de fusión muy alto (funde a 342ºC), parecen indicar la existencia de enlaces de hidrógeno intermoleculares. El FDCA posee dos grupos carboxilo, lo que le convierte en un monómero adecuado para reacciones de policondensación con dioles o diaminas. Es uno de los 12 principales compuestos químicos de alta valor añadido listados por el el DoE de los Estados Unidos en 2004. Esta lista se actualizó en 2010 y el FDCA fue incluido de nuevo, pero esta vez en un grupo junto con el furfural y el 5-hidroximetilfurfu
Read more

Fast pyrolysis plants

By -
Image
Versión en Español Type of post: OVERVIEW. Posts: PYROLYSIS OIL PLATFORM . Fast pyrolysis Process Rapid thermal decomposition of organic compounds in the absence of oxygen to produce liquids, char and gas. Temperature Around 500ºC. Residence time 0.5 - 2 s Typical yields distribution - Oil: 60-70%. - Char: 12-15%. - Gas: 13-25%. Bio-oil characteristics - Low viscosity, dark-brown fluid. - Carboxylic acids: 4-6 w%. - Aldehydes, ketones, furans, pyrans, monomeric phenols: 15-20 w%. - Sugars: 25-35 w%. - Water: 20-30 w%. - Pyrolytic lignin, extractives, solids (including ash), polymerisation products: 20-25 w%. Bio-oil applications - Heating fuel. - Production of advanced biofuels. - Production of food ingredients. - Production of bitumen and coatings. Figure 1. Pyrolysis oil (taken
Read more

Etanol celulósico – Lo básico: Conceptos y materias primas

By -
Image
English version Sección: BIOCOMBUSTIBLES AVANZADOS Serie: Etanol celulósico - Lo básico: Concepto y materias primas - Lo básico: Ruta de conversión –Bioquímica - Lo básico: Ruta de conversión –Termoquímica - Cellulosic ethanol biorefineries at commercial scale Entradas: ETANOL CELULÓSICO 1. Conceptos generales El etanol (también conocido como alcohol etílico, alcohol para beber o simplemente alcohol) es un líquido volátil, inflamable e incoloro con la fórmula molecular C 2 H 6 O (también se puede escribir como CH 3 CH 2 OH y C 2 H 5 OH) y a menudo se abrevia como EtOH. La Asociación Europea de Etanol Renovable (ePURE) afirma que el mercado del etanol se puede dividir en tres segmentos: (1) Combustible : etanol utilizado como aditivo en la gasolina o como combustible alternativo. (2) Potable : etanol utilizado para producir bebidas espirituosas, como aditivo alimentario, para la extracción de aromas, para la conservación de alimentos y
Read more