Waste Energy Research
Randel Easley
Issue date: 3/1/10 Section: News
Have you ever had a job in high school or a co-op that was, well "poopy"? If you were to take the inverse reciprocal, so to speak, and you will get Dr. Jennifer Aurandt's research. Yes, this research involves human wastes and it is more exciting than that dead end job you had in high school. I sat down with Professor Aurandt and Anna Lundberg, a chemical engineer working with Swedish Biogas International (SBI), to ask about their research on the alternative energy creates energy from waste, part of the Center of Energy Excellence (COEE) in the area of Biogas.
Biogas is produced by anaerobic bacteria that feed off organic products, or as professor Aurandt puts it, "They use our pee and poop into energy". Biogas contains methane (CH4), the most basic hydrocarbon, and carbon dioxide. The left over sludge that is not converted into biogas can be used as a fertilizer or incinerated. "Converting the waste into biogas could cut the incineration costs in half at wastewater treatment plants," according to Aurandt.
These bacteria are most efficient at a temperature of 37 0C, with a stable pH and low volatile fatty acids. "The bacteria are able to produce a gas of 65% methane and 35% carbon dioxide, when digesting human waste, even higher when digesting 'food' waste" says Aurandt. At this concentration, companies are able to burn the methane for heating and electricity. Lundberg adds, "The gas could be 'upgraded' in a process called washing; dissolving carbon dioxide gas in water. By upgrading, the gas can be used in any form of transportation or in the natural gas grid." Both Lundberg and Aurandt note that in Sweden, many cities use biogas as fuel for transportation whether by train, car, or bus.
Lundberg, a process engineer from SBI, came to Kettering to help the students working under professor Aurandt with setting up and running four five liter reactors. "Anna and the students have worked very hard on this project," says Aurandt; the students "are able to understand and work with such cutting edge technology, I really appreciate their dedication." The students working with Aurandt include Olivia Hayden, Tiffany Snow, Amanda Anderson, and Katie Hoff. Both Hayden and Snow work with the bio digesters. Taking samples, testing on a daily basis the temperature, and pH are few of the many jobs they carry while working on this project. Anderson performs gas analysis on the biogas and is currently working on her thesis on gas analysis. Hoff is investigating food waste sources for digestion.
The COEE also has a mechanical engineering component which is investigating the use of biogas as an energy source. This work is being spearheaded by Ahmad Pourmavhed and Brenda Lemke. Jennifer Aurandt would also like to thank Tom Guise, CEO Swedish Biogas International for their help in sharing their fifteen years of valuable knowledge and previous research in Sweden, John Seeley at Oakland University for his help in gas analysis, and, in addition, the wastewater plant for its generosity and helpfulness.
Future research will include co-digesters that make biogas from non-potable foods. In addition, Aurandt mentions, "Currently grants are in the works so that I can hire more students to work in the field of anaerobic digestion."
Biogas is produced by anaerobic bacteria that feed off organic products, or as professor Aurandt puts it, "They use our pee and poop into energy". Biogas contains methane (CH4), the most basic hydrocarbon, and carbon dioxide. The left over sludge that is not converted into biogas can be used as a fertilizer or incinerated. "Converting the waste into biogas could cut the incineration costs in half at wastewater treatment plants," according to Aurandt.
These bacteria are most efficient at a temperature of 37 0C, with a stable pH and low volatile fatty acids. "The bacteria are able to produce a gas of 65% methane and 35% carbon dioxide, when digesting human waste, even higher when digesting 'food' waste" says Aurandt. At this concentration, companies are able to burn the methane for heating and electricity. Lundberg adds, "The gas could be 'upgraded' in a process called washing; dissolving carbon dioxide gas in water. By upgrading, the gas can be used in any form of transportation or in the natural gas grid." Both Lundberg and Aurandt note that in Sweden, many cities use biogas as fuel for transportation whether by train, car, or bus.
Lundberg, a process engineer from SBI, came to Kettering to help the students working under professor Aurandt with setting up and running four five liter reactors. "Anna and the students have worked very hard on this project," says Aurandt; the students "are able to understand and work with such cutting edge technology, I really appreciate their dedication." The students working with Aurandt include Olivia Hayden, Tiffany Snow, Amanda Anderson, and Katie Hoff. Both Hayden and Snow work with the bio digesters. Taking samples, testing on a daily basis the temperature, and pH are few of the many jobs they carry while working on this project. Anderson performs gas analysis on the biogas and is currently working on her thesis on gas analysis. Hoff is investigating food waste sources for digestion.
The COEE also has a mechanical engineering component which is investigating the use of biogas as an energy source. This work is being spearheaded by Ahmad Pourmavhed and Brenda Lemke. Jennifer Aurandt would also like to thank Tom Guise, CEO Swedish Biogas International for their help in sharing their fifteen years of valuable knowledge and previous research in Sweden, John Seeley at Oakland University for his help in gas analysis, and, in addition, the wastewater plant for its generosity and helpfulness.
Future research will include co-digesters that make biogas from non-potable foods. In addition, Aurandt mentions, "Currently grants are in the works so that I can hire more students to work in the field of anaerobic digestion."
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