DC11: Screening of novel and low-cost pre-treatment and or post-treatment strategies to optimize the methane production from anaerobic digestion processes (WP3)
Host institution: Aarhus University (Denmark)
Supervisor: Henrik B. Møller (PhD promoter)
Objectives: (i) to identify and optimize cost-effective pre-treatment methods, evaluating their impact on gas yield and the removal of micropollutants, (ii) to develop an innovative digester design by implementing serial connections of digesters with optimized retention times and temperatures, (iii) to investigate the influence of applied pre-treatment on the formation of degradation products of micropollutants and their subsequent effects on the anaerobic digestion process.
DC11 aims to design innovative pre-treatment technologies for effluents containing micropollutants, aligning with various sustainability and green chemistry principles. The focus of DC1 will be on devising and constructing efficient reactor configurations and process conditions to optimize the pre-treatment process, specifically targeting the breakdown of complex organic compounds. Additionally, DC11 will systematically investigate the impact of diverse pre-treatment methods on biogas production and the overall treatment quality post-anaerobic digestion. Employing artificial intelligence-based simulations, DC11 will test and refine system reliability for large-scale applications. Furthermore, the project will encompass an evaluation of energy balance and cost-effective analysis. Finally, DC11 will endeavour to upscale the most efficient combination of pre-treatment and anaerobic digestion processes.
Expected results: Successful application of pre-treatments for anaerobic systems resulting in the efficient removal of key priority pollutants (>90%) and a significant improvement in biogas production (>40%).
Planned secondments:
- UPatras (Sup.: D. Mantzavinos): M12-15, 4 months: Exploring advanced chemical oxidation pre-treatments for anaerobic digestion systems;
- Tartu Veevärk (Sup.: K. Põhako): M30-32; 3 months: Scale-up of the sustainable pre-treatment technologies for enhancing the performance of anaerobic digestion processes.
Enrolment in Doctoral degree: Graduate School in Technical Faculty, Aarhus University
Ideal candidate profile:
- The successful candidate holds a master’s degree in civil engineering, in biotechnology, biological engineering, process technology, environmental technology or similar.
- The candidate should be able to work independently and be problem solving oriented.
- Experiences in the following areas would be of advantage:
- Biological reactor technology and operation of anaerobic and aerobic bioreactors.
- Chemical analytical skills.
Recruited candidate: Mariana M. Moutinho