Program Overview
The Anaerobic Digestion group at BBEL is led by Dr. Craig Frear Dr. Frear's Research Group
Research Program: Advancing science and technologies related to anaerobic digestion (AD) with emphasis on agricultural and municipal applications is a major research focus of the Bioprocessing and Bioproduct Engineering Laboratory (BBEL) at WSU. AD has attracted renewed interests due to its potential environmental benefits in addition to bioenergy production. Compared with other types of biofuel technologies, AD has the advantage of using low-grade feedstock such as mixed wastes that are either free or negative in cost. The goal of the program is to expand the roles of AD technology in meeting the new societal needs in bioenergy, climate change, and environmental protection.
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Program Uniqueness and Competences: The main uniqueness of WSU's AD research program includes (1) an interdisciplinary team that includes process engineers, microbiologists, molecular biologists, and modelers, (2) innovative ideas evidenced by patented technologies, (3) emphasis on nutrient recoveries and co-products, and (4) targeting implementation and commercialization of the technologies. The core competences of the research team include experience, know-how, and expertise in mathematical modeling, microbiology, and chemistry.
Research Topics: Main research efforts of WSU AD research program include: (1) cost reduction through process optimization, (2) co-product development to maximize multiple benefits (especially nutrient recovery) and (3) development of next generation AD for biorefineries. Our specific research topics include understanding of hydrolysis of complex waste materials, optimal mixing, employing novel bacteria and bacteria population retention, overcoming inhibitions, and mathematical modeling.
The goal of our research is to develop a new generation of AD biotechnologies that have two distinct features. The first feature the use of a biorefinery concept so that an anaerobic digester can turn wastes into a suites of products, including biogas either for power generation or transportation fuel, fertilizers derived from recovered nutrients, and partially degraded fibers for various purposes. Second, the development in biotechnology and engineering sciences in the last a couple of decades has provided many new possibilities to improve the performance of the AD technology. Applying this new knowledge and new tools will greatly enhance the capability of AD to advance towards various new applications such as converting organic fraction of municipal wastes and other types of industrial solid wastes to bioenergy.
Accomplishments: The main accomplishments of the WSU AD research program to date include: (1) technology development represented by five patent applications and invention disclosures, (2) scientific contributions represented by fifty refereed journal publications on related topics, (3) grants and contracts in excess of five million US dollars ($5M), (4) great partnership with industry and granting agencies and collaboration with other institutions, (5) contribution to the establishment and development of an AD industry in the State of Washington.
Program Details
- Personnel
- Publications
- Technologies
- Project Reports
- Invited presentations
- Conference Presentations
- Links
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