Biogas facilities
Our biogas facilities enable new/potential users of anaerobic digestion (AD) and biohydrogen to characterise their feedstock to establish its suitability for production of high gas yields.
Biogas facilities
Our biogas facilities enable new/potential users of anaerobic digestion (AD) and biohydrogen to characterise their feedstock to establish its suitability for production of high gas yields. We also help existing users of AD systems to assess / validate modifications to their system, new feedstock pre-treatment methodologies and additives for biogas yield improvement.
Our biogas facilities comprise a range of equipment to enable analysis of anaerobic digestion of feedstocks to produce biomethane or biohydrogen:
- 56 unit biomethane potential analysis (BMP) system: 500 mL working volume, temperature controlled stirred batch digestion systems.
- Custom built low (3-5%) and high (~25%) solids content anaerobic systems: 30 L reaction volume; pH- and temperature-controlled stirred digester units with integral dewatering system to facilitate the continuous addition of high volumes of dilute feedstocks.
- Hach Lange BOD Trak II for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) analysis
- Hach Lange DR3900 spectrophotometer with HT200 high temperature / high speed digestion unit for measurement of chemical oxygen demand (COD), organic acids, nitrogen, chloride etc
- A range of gas chromatography systems (Hewlett Packard, Agilent and SRI ) to measure the gas composition (CH4, CO2, H2) and volatile fatty acid content of digested samples.
- Thermolyne muffle furnace
- Kern moisture balance
- Hach Lange TOC5 shaker
- Hach Lange Titralab AT1000 titration system
- Robot Coupe Blixer 10 VV for sample homogenisation
- Gas detection / oxygen depletion detection system
Our facilities and expertise are used to develop biohydrogen for the UK transport sector
Following on from the successful Hydrogen BECCS Innovation Programme Phase 1 funding for the H2Boost project, we and ten other partners have successfully been awarded £5 million for a phase 2 project. This is funded by the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) that has been awarded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
H2Boost will focus on demonstrating at scale a commercially viable and sustainable process for producing biohydrogen – a clean, gaseous biofuel created through microbial fermentation of organic waste.
The project aims to produce biohydrogen for the UK transport sector by integrating an advanced oxidation and enzymatic pre-treatment technology of bio-based feedstocks, conversion to bio-hydrogen by dark fermentation (DF) and down-stream processing of by-products via anaerobic digestion, microbial CO2 capture and storage.
Phase 2 will look at under-utilised, low-value feedstocks that will be subjected to different pretreatment conditions to improve biohydrogen yields and reduce the residency time of nutrient-rich streams in DF. The fermentation by-products, namely anaerobic digestion digestate, will be used as substrates for algal propagation and anaerobic digestion to achieve a closed-loop system for enhanced biomethane yield and carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Our role in the project
We have a broad and integrated role in the project. As well as leading on the management of the project, our scientists are working on the lab scale trials and the 10L continuous trials as well as the testing of alternative feedstocks and enzymes. Our innovation advisors are also involved in the policy and regulatory considerations and organising the industry facing workshops.
To use our biogas facilities or find out more about its capabilities, please contact us.
We have an extensive range of processing equipment, see below.
Processing
Chromatography systems
Used for purification and separation of complex organic mixtures.
Fermentation facilities
We have several bioreactor systems, which allow the development and scale up of fermentation processes from 500 mL to 30 L.
Filter drier
Our Guedu filter drier is used for separating solids and liquids from each other, before drying the products.
Gas chromatography
Gas chromatography (GC) is a flexible technique that allows separation and quantification of chemical substances found within a complex mixture.
Glass stirred tank reactors
The Buchi Kilo Suite (ATEX Rated 65 L vessel) pilot scale glass reactor suite has a 65 L capacity, capable of operating under various modes including reaction, distillation, crystallisation and extraction.
Thermochemical Equipment
Our pyrolysis microwave allows heating up organic materials in the absence of oxygen (pyrolysis) for a wide range of industrial applications such as energy and chemicals production.
Microwave hydrothermal equipment
The RoboQbo 15-4 is a Universal Process Machine capable of processing high solid loading slurries upto 30% w/w (dependent on feedstock).
Microbiology facilities
Our microbiology laboratory offers a range of equipment allowing users to safely handle, store and work with a variety of aerobic and anaerobic microbes, at ACDP hazard category II level.
QIAcube HT nucleic acid purification
Qiagen QIAcube HT is an instrument for an automated mid- to high-throughput nucleic acid purification in 96-well format using silica membrane technology.
Supercritical carbon dioxide system
Our supercritical fluid extraction system at can extract chemical compounds from biomass materials.
Let's work together
We have worked on 1,500 bio-based projects to date
We have several ways to work with us, including business advisory programmes and self-funded commercial options. We even have the option for you to hire our state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and office space.
