Novel Control of Sulphate-Reducing Bacteria during Anaerobic Digestion

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Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a common and growing means of reducing the organic wastes,otherwise sent to landfill, dumped at sea or incinerated. It is central ato the UK’sGovernment’s commitment to work towards a ‘zero waste’ economy and to introducemeasures to increase renewabl energy production from waste. With almost any organicmaterial suitable for AD, the resulting biogas has applications in generating heat andelectricity, converted into biofuels or injected into the national gas grid. Furthermore, theresulting digestates are valuable biofertilers. The AD process involves complex microbialcommunities, over several stages. Within these communities, however, are uselesscompetitors (sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB’s)), which can significantly reduce the energyoutput of the AD process, as well as being responsible for unpleasant odours associated withbiofertiliers. The challenge that will be addressed in the proposed project is to develop aninnovate bactericide treatment that will specifically remove these SRB’s, with the resultingeconomic and social benefits of increased AD yield and reduced customer complaintsregarding odours. The lead business (Advanced Pest Solutions) is developing an innovativeantibacterial platform technology based on novel, naturally-occurring, highly specific and safeagents (bacteriophage). The company has already made significant commercial advances withthe technology in the field of aerobic bacteria (particularly in agricultural- and food processingmarkets) and this project represents a development into a new and rapidly expanding market.We aim to produce bespoke bacteriophage AD additives targeted at SRB communities in arange of digester types, bringing commercial benefit to the applicant, as well as providing atool to enhance AD efficiency and promote the process in the drive to increase renewableenergy production.