Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

In this era of dwindling energy resources and soaring global energy demand, the need for alternative energy sources is persistent. Meanwhile environmental pollution is increasing due to industrialization. This proposal simultaneously addresses two of today's most pressing problems: soaring energy demand and environmental pollution. With the shifting paradigm of waste management towards resource recovery, the conversion of organic wastes to green energy such as hydrogen and methane using biological treatment processes offers an economical sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to waste problems. The overall long term objective of this research program is to develop novel economical energy-producing biological waste treatment processes. The research explores various technologies to improve the effectiveness of biorefining organic agricultural wastes, source separated organic municipal wastes and high strength industrial wastes to generate methane, hydrogen and eventually electricity. Specific emphasis is placed on enhancing biological hydrogen production from wastes as well as improving anaerobic digestion efficiency in terms of methane production and solids destruction, thus not only producing energy but also reducing ultimate disposal costs and carbon dioxide emissions associated with transportation of biosolids.Three promising technologies at various stages of development have been researched and this program aims at further advancement and application. The technologies can be used to treat a myriad of agricultural and industrial wastes including thin stillage from bioethanol plants, hog manure, corn syrup wastes, winery wastes, brewery wastes, landfill leachates, as well the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes to stringent environmental standards as well as produce green energy and reduce solids disposal. Thus, this research program can culminate in the development of several patentable process designs that offer practical, sustainable, and cost effective solutions to waste management problems in North America