| Investigator | Arun Raju |
| Project Sponsor | Southern California Gas Company |
| Project Period | 06/01/2018-12/31/2019 |
Overview
This project will demonstrate a novel technology developed by Perlemax that can double methane production rates of anaerobic digesters using CO2 microbubbles. The demonstration will be conducted in a digester at the City of Riverside Water Quality Control Plant.
Project Abstract
Introducing microbubbles of pure carbon dioxide (CO2) in anaerobic digestion appears to double the rate of methane (CH4) production. Doubling the rate of CH4 production, and perhaps increasing the mass of converted solids, has the potential to substantially, positively impact the economics of ambient temperature anaerobic digestion (ATAD) as a renewable fuel source. Additionally, this has the potential to make ATAD competitive with, or contribute to a better “clean-up” process for fermentation and hydrothermal liquefaction of wet biomass. The objective of this project is to demonstrate the CO2 microbubble enhancement of CH4 production during Anaerobic Digestion at scales necessary for commercial development. The project involves process design and testing and optimization for digestion of sewage sludge (biosolids) and other feedstocks at temperatures between 10 to 37ºC.