Performance evaluation of scale-up combined psychrophilic anaerobic digestion-reverse osmosis processes for the valorisation of organic municipal solid waste

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Recently, municipal solid waste (MSW) has been recognised as a valuable resource that can be converted intouseful products via microbially mediated transformations. Although various methods are available for thetreatment of organic waste, anaerobic digestion (AD) appears to be one of the most promising approaches. ADexhibits great potential in both environmental and social sustainability by providing biofuels from therenewable feedstock with nutrients recovered able to be used as fertilizer. Anaerobic digesters can be operatedunder liquid (wet), semi-solid, or solid-state (dry) conditions. Solid-state AD using a liquid inoculumrecirculation-percolation method of operation at psychrophilic temperatures is a promising, cost-effectiveoption as it results in an exportable dry organic fertilizer in addition to the production of a green energy source.Having reverse osmosis (RO) as a post treatment process for the treatment of liquid leachate or reject water canproduce a high quality, treated, liquid nutrient source for agricultural activities. The integration of the recoveryof nutrients (as organic fertilizer) along with energy recovery through AD could largely improve the bioenergyefficiency and fertilizer quality, and also provide options for water reuse in non-potable applications. In ourrecently completed project, the aforementioned technique was successfully experimented using a lab-scaleapproach. In this proposed study, a scale-up study (i.e. 200 times bigger than the lab-scale digester) will beconducted to validate the lab-study results and to redesign the post treatment techniques suchcoagulation-flocculation/RO process, rendering them optimal for the scale-up digesters' effluent/rejectwastewater. The outcome of this scale-up study will significantly add value for Bio-Terre Systems Inc., andCanada in general. In effect, this project aims to develop energy efficient solutions for municipal food sectors,and preserve the quality of our environment by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition, theend-product can be used as a valuable organic fertilizer and treated water can be reused fornon-potable/industrial purposes.