Choosing the Right Anaerobic Digester System for Your Environmental Goals

Would you like to contribute to a sustainable future by installing an anaerobic digester system? 

With an increased emphasis on environmental goals, it is critical to select the ideal machine that aligns with your objectives. 

Before choosing an anaerobic digester system, it is critical to understand the basics.

Anaerobic digestion is a natural process that converts organic waste into biogas and nutrient-rich fertilizer. It no longer just improves waste management but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Implementing the best anaerobic digester system helps you not only reduce your company’s carbon footprint but also generate renewable energy. 

To choose the best anaerobic digester system, consider the type and amount of rubbish you produce, the available area, and your budget.

Anaerobic digester buildings come in a variety of sizes, including small domestic units and huge commercial systems.  

By selecting the correct anaerobic digester system, you may significantly enhance sustainability while also increasing waste control and energy production. 

Let us evaluate the options together and make an informed decision for a greener future.

Discuss the anaerobic digestion system

Anaerobic digestion is an occurring biological process that degrades organic materials such as animal dung, food waste, and sewage sludge in the absence of oxygen. It is a complex series of microbial processes that convert natural waste into biogas and nutrient-rich digestate.

Anaerobic digestion structures commonly include the following components:

• Feedstock:

Organic materials, often known as feedstock or substrate, are added to anaerobic digesters. Common feedstocks include agricultural leftovers, food waste, power vegetation, and wastewater sludge. These materials are high in organic content and serve as fuel for the anaerobic digestion process.

• Digester:

The Anaerobic Digester is the key component of the digestive process. The digester is a sealed, oxygen-free tank or vessel that admits material and maintains proper temperature and pH conditions to promote the growth of anaerobic microorganisms. 

The digestive process is divided into four major stages: hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis.

1. Hydrolysis is the breakdown of complex chemical molecules into simpler ones, such as sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids, using hydrolytic bacteria.
2. Acidogenesis: Acidogenic microorganisms break down less challenging substrates into volatile fatty acids (VFAs), alcohols, and other intermediates.
3. Acetogenesis: Acetogenic microorganisms metabolize VFAs and alcohols to produce acetic acid, CO2, and hydrogen.
4. Methanogenesis: Methanogenic archaea convert the results of the preceding degrees into biogas, which is composed of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2).

• Biogas:

Anaerobic digestion produces biogas, a mix of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and trace amounts of other gases such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and nitrogen (N2). Methane is the main component of biogas, which can be used as a renewable energy source. The feedstock and the specific conditions in the digester determine the composition of biogas.

• Digestate:

It is the nutrient-rich residue from digestion that can be used as fertilizer. The digestate can be further processed or utilized directly on agricultural land.

Anaerobic vs. Aerobic Industrial Water Purification

There are two process water treatment methods: anaerobic digester water treatment and aerobic digester systems.

• Anaerobic treatment does not require oxygen, but aerobic digestion does. This is the main distinction between the two.
• Anaerobic digesters employ microbes to break down and eliminate organic contaminants from wastewater, whereas aerobic wastewater treatment systems use bacteria and protozoa that feed on oxygen.
• While anaerobic systems were utilized to keep biomass sludge out of the air, the need for circulating wastewater aerobics systems in aerobic treatment reduced their energy efficiency.
• Compared to anaerobic digester systems, aerobic digester systems have greater operational costs.
• Aerobic digestion produces neither methane nor carbon dioxide, although it does.

Anaerobic digesters have a lifespan

Biogas is produced when microorganisms degrade organic material, commonly known as biomass, in an airless atmosphere. Chemicals can disintegrate anywhere using anaerobic digestion, which requires only a digestive system and wastewater to function. If kept, the digester can last for 15 to 20 years. It is a therapeutic procedure that requires minimal upkeep. Any organic waste can be used to produce biogas. Although it takes 30-45 days, the time it takes to manufacture waste can range from 30 to 90 days. Different digester system types are utilized for various purposes like generating electricity in industrial power plants.

Main Industrial Processes for Water Purification

For industrial processes, there are four primary methods for treating wastewater.

1. Eliminating settleable inorganic particles such as sand, grids, fats, oils, and greases as well as floating items like leaves, papers, and rags will be the first step. Solids were removed via skimming, sedimentation methods, and first treatment.
2. The second phase will involve various biological treatments, such as aerobic or anaerobic treatment.
3. Water recycling was made possible by the third stage of industrial water treatment, commonly referred to as chemical precipitation or coagulation-aided sedimentation. Over 80% of the pollutants in the water are removed by this technique.
4. Getting rid of the sewage effluent without harming the environment is the last step in the treatment of sludge wastewater.

Types of anaerobic digester systems

Anaerobic digestion is a method that produces digestate and biogas by breaking down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Anaerobic digester systems come in a variety of forms, each with unique features and uses. 

• Covered Lagoon Digesters: 

This method uses a shallow, covered lagoon or pond to store organic waste. The methane generated during anaerobic digestion is contained by the cover. They are reasonably priced and easy to use.

• Complete Mix Digesters: 

To produce a homogenous mixture, organic waste and water are mixed in complete mix digesters. This kind of digester is adaptable and suitable for a variety of feedstocks.

• Plug Flow Digesters: 

Organic waste is fed into one end of a long, narrow digestion tank, and plug flow digesters work on a continuous flow basis. The substance is gradually broken down by the microorganisms as the trash travels down the tank. 

• Fixed Dome Digesters: 

Fixed dome digesters are made up of a gas storage dome and an underground digester chamber. Organic waste is placed within the chamber, and when biogas is generated, the garbage is pushed upward and into the dome. 

The WOG Group is involved in a variety of wastewater treatment for industrial processes. It provided us with a competent staff that is currently concentrating on treating wastewater via anaerobic digestion. As a result, organic materials in natural pools of water will be reduced. Anaerobic digestion is a novel method for treating sewage sludge, industrial effluent, and wastewater. This approach can be quite beneficial to an efficient, low-maintenance industrial operation. It is a tried-and-true low-energy method of managing waste for businesses. Finally, we will develop and implement a low-cost, minimally chemical industrial wastewater treatment plant.