Research and development of a novel pilot-scale two-stage anaerobic digestion process for renewable energy production and treatment of high strength organic industrial streams

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The proposed research focuses on the development of a novel two-stage anaerobic digestion (AD) processdesigned to create an array of renewable products such as transportation fuels, chemicals and plastics fromsustainable biomass sources i.e. lignocellulosic crops, and to use wastes such as agricultural residues ormunicipal green bin collections or animal manures. The process will expand the application of the anaerobicdigestion process beyond its current primary use. Focusing on the productivity aspects, with respect tohydrogen and methane, this research's ultimate goal is to develop an AD process capable of convertingfeedstocks from various sources, using the concept of "co-digestion", into renewable hydrogen and methanegases. In accomplishing this goal the AD process will be integrated with the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) approach to convert the renewable gases into liquid fuels. The development of the proposed two-stage AD process willmake the integration of the AD and FT processes economically feasible as well as technically possible due toits high throughput capacity. This robust capacity will drastically reduce the process's capital footprint and will enhance the high biogas productivity, which adds to the process's economic advantages. The AD process will improve the economics of existing plants and will generate a commercially viable as well as sustainable way of producing renewable fuels. The AD process could be 'game changer' in the ethanol/renewable fuels industry and could provide benefits to the overall Canadian economy. This project involves a consortium of industrial partners i.e. Greenfield Ethanol, Union Gas, ADI, and the universities of Windsor and Western. The project will offer significant training for one PDF, two Ph.D. students, and three M.E.Sc./M.A.Sc students.