Biotechnology for Zero Waste – Emerging Waste Management Techniques (Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain (editor) etc.)

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Bioreactors for the Production of Industrial Chemicals and

Bioenergy Recovery from Waste

Gargi Ghoshal

Dr. S. S. Bhatnagar University Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Panjab University,

Chandigarh, 160014, India

16.1

Introduction

With the rise in human population, resource revival from waste is becoming

significant for a sustainable wealth, for the preservation of the environment, and for

diminishing the reliance on the limited intrinsic sources. The function of aerobic

and anaerobic digestion (AD) system for the development of a bio-based circular

culture was explored. The developed pathways in the AD field, such as the genera-

tion of biogas, hydrogen, and other valuable chemicals volatile fatty acids [VFAs],

were considered. The possibility to recuperate beneficial components, like nitrogen

through composting, was also dealt with. Stress was given on the novel models

for enhanced economics and process appearance, which includes co-digestion

of diverse organic solid wastes (OSWs), revival of numerous bioproducts, and

integrated bioprocesses [1, 2].

Presently for OSW treatment, diverse options are reachable for translating it into

valuable resources (Figure 16.1). Pure cultures are ideal for synthesis of highly pure

products and refining is not needed before ultimate utilization of products (e.g. sug-

ars). Innate diverse bacterial conglomerate is hence a smart preference for mixed

solid wastes, and it facilitates reserve revival in terms of energy and high-value plat-

form chemicals during AD. Among the biological solid waste treatment processes,

biogas manufacturing has been extensively commercialized (Figure 16.2). But other

products of ADs are mainly under research supervision, paying way for opening of

additional scientific investigation and advancement [3].

16.1.1

Biogas Production

The AD is a well-known biological processing method appropriate for degradation

of OSWs into energy and chemicals. It provides a renewable resources and fuel and

thereby contributes to rounded wealth and zero waste [4]. The AD process takes

place in oxygen-lacking environment and is catalyzed by innate microbial flora

Biotechnology for Zero Waste: Emerging Waste Management Techniques, First Edition.

Edited by Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain and Ravi Kumar Kadeppagari.