Improving Evaluation of Anaerobic Digestion Processes

从堆填区转移有机废物可大大减少温室气体排放和渗滤液的产生。对来自城市、工业和农业的液体和固体有机废物进行厌氧消化（AD）是一种首选的废物管理策略。AD稳定废物并产生可用于电力和供暖目的的沼气，或升级为可再生天然气（RNG）。本提案中要求的设备将为所有与BioZone相关的学员提供知识和必要的设备，以量化各种固体和液体有机残留物的沼气产量。研究中心围绕使用成熟的生化甲烷势（BMP）和厌氧毒性测定（ATA）的变化。这两种分析方法仍然是有价值的工具，可用于获取各种不同有机废物产生沼气的潜力或抑制沼气的产生。****** BMP和ATA方法容易产生不确定性，因为使用注射器从100-200毫升橡胶塞玻璃瓶中重复测量气体体积。为了最大限度地减少这些误差，并适应具有异构成分和大粒径的实际固体废物（例如绿色垃圾箱废物），我们需要在1至10升的大瓶中进行BMP测试，使用自动化气体测量系统和更大的可进式加热室进行培养瓶，将大大改善此类实验。因此，我们需要一套24毫克计数器，以连续和准确的方式测量产生的气体量。还需要数据采集软件和计算机来存储和处理来自MilliGas计数器的数据。BMP瓶首先在厌氧室中制备，以尽量减少氧污染。需要一个气表来监测室内的H2和O2组成，以取代功能不佳的仪器。BMP瓶将在37℃或55℃的条件下在要求的小型步入式室中孵育。瓶子将定期取样发酵产物和气体成分，而DNA， RNA或蛋白质将被提取用于微生物群落或酶分析，以全面了解所研究的过程。******所要求的设备将支持我们的合作研究中心BioZone的本科生和研究生，博士后研究员，研究助理和技术人员。重点项目包括安大略省和巴西的纸浆和造纸厂的资源回收和可再生能源生产，以及减少垃圾填埋场的温室气体排放。新的AD技术有望彻底改变加拿大和世界各地处理混合有机固体和液体废物的方式。参与培训的学员将为未来更环保的废物及污水管理策略及循环经济作好准备。**

Diverting organic waste from landfills substantially reduces greenhouse gas emissions and leachate production. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of liquid and solid organic wastes from municipal, industrial and agricultural sources is a preferred waste management strategy. AD stabilizes the waste and generates biogas that can be used for electricity and heating purposes, or upgraded to renewable natural gas (RNG). The equipment requested in this proposal will provide all trainees associated with BioZone with knowledge and the necessary equipment to quantify biogas production from a wide range of solid and liquid organic residues. The research centres around the use of variations of the well-established Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) and Anaerobic Toxicity Assays (ATA). These two assays continue to be valuable tools to access the potential for biogas production or for inhibition of biogas generation for all kinds of different organic waste material. ******The BMP and ATA methods are prone to uncertainties from repetitive gas volume measurement with syringes from 100-200 mL rubber-stoppered glass bottles. To minimize these errors, and to accommodate real solid wastes with heterogeneous composition and large particle size (e.g. green bin waste), we need to carry out BMP tests in large bottles from 1 to 10 L. Such experiments will be greatly improved with the use of an automated gas measurement system and larger walk-in heated chambers for incubating bottles. Therefore, we are requesting a set of 24 MilliGas counters that will measure the amount of gas produced in a continuous and accurate way. Data acquisition software and a computer are also needed to store and process data from the MilliGas counters. BMP bottles are first prepared inside an anaerobic chamber to minimize oxygen contamination. A gas meter to monitor the H2 and O2 composition inside the chamber is requested to replace a poorly functioning instrument. BMP bottles will be incubated at 37oC or 55oC in the requested small walk-in chamber. Bottles will be sampled regularly for fermentation products, and gas composition, while DNA, RNA or protein will be extracted for microbial community or enzymatic analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding the process under study. ******The equipment requested will support undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates and technicians in our collaborative research centre called BioZone. Highlighted projects include resource recycling and renewable energy production from pulp and paper mills and greenhouse gas emission reduction from landfills in Ontario and Brazil. New AD technology is expected to completely change how mixed organic solid and liquid waste is treated in Canada and around the world. The trainees involved will be well-prepared for future greener waste and wastewater management strategies and the circular economy.**