Objectif
THE RESEARCH WILL FOCUS ON TWO TOPICS:
1. EVALUATION OF ENHANCED BIOMETHANATION BY APPROPRIATE PRETREATMENTS OF THE DOMESTIC REFUSE. THE PRETREATMENT PATTERNS WILL INCLUDE:
A) SHORT-TERM AEROBIC PRE-COMPOSITING IN MECHANICAL DEVICES (VERSTRAETE, RUG, GENT)
B) ANAEROBIC LIQUEFACTION (NYNS, LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, UCL)
2. DESIGN OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTORS (UP TO 50 LITERS) CAPABLE OF PROCESSING PRETREATED DOMESTIC REFUSE, EITHER AT MESOPHILIC OR THERMOPHILIC TEMPERATIRES, PARTICULARLY ADAPTED TO 1.A (RUG, GENT) AND TO 1.B. (UCL,LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE).
NEW TYPES OF CONTINUOUS ANAEROBIC DIGESTORS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED WHICH ALLOW THE PROCESSING OF DOMESTIC REFUSE AT AN OPTIMUM SOLIDS CONTENT (EITHER IN THE 10-30% RANGE OR IN THE 25-35% RANGE).
AN ADAPTED ANALYTICAL TOOL WILL HAVE TO BE SET UP IN ORDER TO ENSURE A PROPER PARAMETRISATION OF THE CONTINUOUS SEMI-SOLID PROCESS AS HAS BEEN DONE FOR LIQUID PROCESSES.
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION IN THERMOPHILIC CONDITIONS WILL BE STUDIED BECAUSE IT IS PARTICULARLY WELL SUITED FOR SEMI-SOLID SUBSTRATES (STABILITY, CELLULOSE UTILISATION, ENERGY. BALANCE).