Robust processes for biogas production using manure and by-products from agriculture and agro-industry

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Production of biogas by anaerobic digestion has a large potential as a source of bioenergy and as a means to better exploit biomass, including major by-products from agriculture and agro-industry (manure, by-products from food processing, straw and other lignocellulosic materials). To reduce climate gas emissions, Norway wants to use 30 % of animal manure for biogas production within 2020. Nationwide implementation of biogas production is hampered by several challenges. Some of these challenges are addres sed in this project, the overall goal being to design robust, optimal processes. We will focus on: (1) increase the use of manure in biogas production, (2) find optimal application routes for by-products from agriculture and the food industry, and (3) imp rove process stability and reproducibility so that the processes can be (a) optimized in a more rational way and (b) more easily implemented throughout the country. Using laboratory scale reactors we will optimize biogas fermentation processes for relevan t feed-stocks, studying variables such as thermal pretreatment, enzyme pretreatment, biomass composition and mixing, inoculums, and other fermentation parameters. To increase standardization and rationalization, we not only evaluate processes by a wide sp ectrum of chemical (component) analyses, but also study process microbiology, using state-of-the art high throughput sequencing tools for microbial community analysis. Standard operating procedures for inoculum management will be developed. Eventually, we will produce protocols that can be evaluated at biogas production facilities, in other ongoing projects. Also in collaboration with other ongoing projects, the performance of the residue as fertilizer will be studied. The project will be conducted in clo se collaboration with Tine, A Norwegian food producer, Cambi, a Norwegian engineering company with focus on biomass handling, and Bondelaget, The Norwegian Farmers Association.