Eco-Solids international make encouraging start with VALORGAS programme’s food waste-to-energy tests

The €3.5M, 42-month R&D programme, which is led by the University of Southampton, is examining potential for biogas production when pre-treating food waste for Anaerobic Digestion (AD) feedstock – and early laboratory results are also highlighting the emerging potential importance of ammonia removal.

Chris Newman, Eco-Solids Manager, Sales & Business Development, said: “Its early days but this is encouraging news. We know that the optimum performance of our Cellruptor process comes from SAS (surplus activated sludge), as is the case at our inaugural installation for Yorkshire Water.
“However”, he added, “the microbial and pathogen deactivation capabilities of our Eco Solids Process are designed to produce marketable products from waste, so we see big potential for our Eco-Solid and Eco-Liquid, which can be used as fertilizers”.

Examining ways in which energy potential can be realised through effective collection, pre-processing and optimisation of fuel conversion technology, VALORGAS also considers how integration of these aspects with improving conversion efficiencies can maximise net energy gains.

So far, Cellruptor is undergoing preliminary tests with food waste at pressure levels from five to 25 bar, for up to 24 hours, and initial results show reductions in pathogenic organisms.