Highly Efficient Modular Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR) for Biofuel Production from Wet Organic Waste Streams

A significant amount of wet organic waste, such as municipal sludges and biosolids, industrial, commercial, and residential food wastes, manure slurries, fats, oils, and greases is already collected, but presents a difficult disposal problem for municipalities and other responsible parties. The energy content of these wastes is vast and converting these wastes to high value liquid fuels has real economic potential. TDA Research will improve the existing anaerobic biofuel production process by producing in-line extraction of Medium Chain Carboxylic Acids (MCCAs). We will apply in-line extraction to remove these products, simultaneously recovering the MCCAs and reducing the inhibition that they cause in the reactor. A novel membrane extraction technology will be applied. In the Phase I of the project, we will design and carry out bench-scale proof-of-concept tests of the whole biofuel production process. The best membrane for this process will be identified. A full scale modular system will be designed and its techno-economic potential evaluated.