Recovering nutrients and producing energy from sludge deriving from wastewater treatment

The Ceit Technology Centre is taking part in the ThermoGas project, an initiative that seeks to research into, optimise and validate thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TAD) technology for sludge in real environments.

This innovative technology has the potential to recover nutrients, produce energy and undertake safe and efficient hygienisation of sludge deriving from both urban and industrial wastewater treatment.

ThermoGas, which is being funded by the Spanish State Research Agency, has arisen from public/private collaboration between the Ceit Technology Centre, NILSA, GyD Tecnología del Agua, the University of Zaragoza and the University of Barcelona.

Thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TAD) is a type of technology that enables energy to be produced and the sludge deriving from both urban and industrial wastewater treatment to be hygienised. However, its implementation is very limited, owing to existing technological difficulties with ensuring that it is set in motion and operated efficiently and in a stable manner.

The ThermoGas project (sludge treatment via thermophilic anaerobic digestion: the study and optimisation of technology through microbiology, engineering and simulation) seeks to address existing shortcomings in thermophilic anaerobic digestion in sludge. Likewise, its purpose is to develop a comprehensive, safe and efficient solution in order to facilitate its widespread implementation in sludge mixing of different composition and dryness, facilitate the recovery of nutrients and the production of biogas, and ensure a degree of stabilisation and suitable hygienisation for subsequent agricultural assessment.

ThermoGas, which is being funded by the Spanish State Research Agency, has arisen from public/private collaboration between the Ceit Technology Centre, NILSA, GyD Tecnología del Agua, the University of Zaragoza and the University of Barcelona.

A prototype for helping with decision making

Among the objectives set out by the project is that of building a tool prototype to help with decision making for optimum operation of digestors. Within this context, Ceit will be in charge of the installation and setting in motion of a TAD pilot plant under conditions with a high concentration of solids, and their adaptation to thermophilic operative conditions.

By way of a complement to this, Ceit will be building and calibrating a new dynamic mathematical TAD model for sludge capable of describing the biochemical mechanisms of digestion in detail under different environmental conditions. The new mathematical TAD model will also be used as a basis for designing an operative support system (OSS) designed to guide operation of anaerobic digesters in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

Recovery of nutrients and generation of energy

Thus, innovative ThermoGas technology will have the potential to recover nutrients, produce energy and undertake safe and efficient hygienisation of sludge deriving from both urban and industrial wastewater treatment.