To revalue waste, experts seek to transform digestates of low agronomic value into efficient and sustainable products, such as biofuels, in order to recover nutrients from wastewater treatment plant (EDAR) sludge and generate fertilizers through anaerobic digestion.
Obtaining cellulose from plant biomass residues is one of the transformation projects of various types of residues and gaseous emissions into valuable bioproducts and biofuels.
Second Rocío MonsonísAINIA specialistvarious projects are being developed to transform different types of waste and gaseous emissions into valuable bioproducts and biofuels that organizations and companies in the sector are starting up.
Among these projects are:
- Circular solutions from digested
- Obtaining valuable products from lignocellulosic waste
- Financing opportunities for innovative projects
- Transformation of greenhouse gases (GHG) in food and cosmetic ingredients
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What are digestates?
Los digested they are liquid by-products obtained from the anaerobic digestion process. Anaerobic digestion is a process that uses bacteria to break down organic waste into biogas.
Digestates contain nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other mineral elements that can be useful for crop fertilization. They can also contain heavy metals, pathogens and other contaminants, so it’s important to treat and handle them properly before use.
In some cases the digestates can be used directly as fertilizers, while in others it is necessary to carry out a additional treatment to remove contaminants and improve its quality. It is important to note that their use as fertilizers is subject to specific regulations and requirements in different jurisdictions.
Several projects are under development to transform different types of waste and gaseous emissions into valuable bioproducts
Some technologies for producing biofuels
There are several innovative technologies that are being used or developed for the transformation of waste into bioproducts of value and biofuels. Some of them include:
- Composting: Composting is a process that converts organic waste into compost through natural decomposition. The resulting compost can be used as a fertilizer for crops and gardens.
- Anaerobic digestion: Anaerobic digestion is a process that uses bacteria to break down organic waste into biogas and a liquid by-product called digestate. Biogas can be used as an energy source and digestate as a fertiliser.
- Gasification: Gasification is a process that converts solid waste into a gas called syngas, which can be used as fuel to generate electricity and heat.
- pyrolysis: Pyrolysis converts solid waste into a liquid product called bio-oil and a solid by-product called biochar. Bio-oil can be used as a fuel and biochar as a fertilizer.
- Fermentation: Fermentation is a process that uses bacteria or fungi to convert organic waste into products such as ethanol, lactic acid or acetic acid. These products can be used as biofuels or as ingredients in the production of chemicals and foods.
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