An advanced system of pre-processing and preparation of substrates for a co-fermentation process (ANADI SLUDGE) based on a multi-stage cascade disintegration method.
Equipment and systems have been designed by EKOLOG within R&D works of the “Fast Track” programme of the National Centre of Research and Development.

The multi-stage cascade disintegration includes the following processes:

• thermal,
• biological,
• enzymatic,
• chemical.

A proper preparation of substrates in the key to a highly-efficient and effective fermentation, and to achieve satisfactory final effects in the form of a high-quality biogas and high reduction of the organic mass.
The essence of the innovativeness of the research and implementation lies in the understanding of separate structure and properties of each substrate and using properly chosen methods and equipment for each of them separately and together.

Research planned to be carried out in the near future will focus on further development of ELA technology based on effective and flexible technology and process of wastewater treatment using granular sludge. Exceptional properties of the pellets include very good sedimentation characteristics, simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, and resistance to load fluctuations will help to reach the required wastewater treatment parameters at lower investment and operating expenditure as compared to traditional active sludge methods.

At present EKOLOG takes part in the EU-India cooperation, together with renowned scientific units from Europe and India (Horizon 2020). The objective of the cooperation is to build periodical and flow system container installations using granular sludge in a wastewater treatment plant on the Ganga. The whole programme will bring together state-of-the-art technologies to treat the Ganga (Novel Engineering of Water treatment techniques for prevention of Ganga water pollution – NEW GANGA).

A wastewater treatment plant using granular sludge process for Saryagash in Kazakhstan is being designed.

There are plans to apply this year for funding of research on an advanced biological reactor with granular sludge in Poland.
Work progress level: Preparatory stage.

Expected launch: 2021.

1. Full utilisation of the substrates 
Production of organic-mineral preparation from post-fermented material. Utilisation of low-concentrated leachate in wastewater treatment process owing to precipitation of ammoniacal nitrogen and phosphorus in a form of struvite.

2. Shorter fermentation time
Reduced time of substrate retention in fermentation chambers from 22-30 days to 9-12 days.

3. Full automation of the process
Development of a mathematical model to fully control parameters of a process in which human intervention will be unnecessary or significantly limited.

4. Flexibility in terms of input material
Co-fermentation ensures the availability of the substrates from different sources.

5. Compact design
Smaller volumes and modular solutions decrease the demand for area by at least 20% and the demand for heat and power, which helps to reduce the operating costs.

6. Higher reduction of organic matter
Increased degree of gasification from 35-40% (standard arrangement) on average to 65 – 95% of dry organic matter.

7. Higher concentration of methane in biogas
Higher content of methane in biogas (increase from 65% to ca. 75-80%) will contribute to an increase in the volume of power and heat generated in cogeneration systems by ca. 20 – 40% on average.

For big cities we propose a programme of collection and co-fermentation of all organic fractions within one complex system called “SMART CITY” with the use of ANADI SLUDGE or ANADI ORGANICS technologies.

The program is based on three pillars:

• biogasification plant located at wastewater treatment plant with sewage collection stations and collective stations for substrates transported from the region – ANADI SLUDGE,
• municipal waster segregation plant and organic fraction fine treatment system – BIOSORT ORGANIC and ANADI ORGANIC,
• system of municipal and industrial solid and liquid waste segregation at source.

Full title of the project: Hydrogen energy by Solar Activation of Cellulose. The project is executed in cooperation with the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) from Sweden within the international research programme ERANET called “Bioenergy as part of smart and flexible energy system”. The main purpose of the project is to develop an effective and flexible technology to produce hydrogen energy in a process of low-energy photocatalytic decomposition of cellulose waste of non-food industry origin. On the one hand the proposed technology will enable utilisation of commonly available and previously not used waste material, and on the other hand it will contribute to development of renewable and pure source of bioenergy.

The project will end with EKOLOG’s designing and constructing of a device for H2 production from cellulose waste in a technical scale.

Progress of works: test stage

Expected launch: 2021