AD – the biorefinery of the future

Prof Anna Schnürer

Department of Molecular Sciences

Aerobic Digestion

CO2 + H2O

Heat O2

Organic material

Anaerobic Digestion (AD)

O2

Microbial degradation processes occurring in the absence of air

Methane

Organic acids

Alcohols

Hydrogen

Diols

Urban/Rural

Large and small-scale

Biogas

Established

Fertilizer

Anaerobic Digestion 2018

Waste

Future AD

Chemical platforms for

waste carboxylates

Komplex polymers

Organic acids,

Alcohols

Hydrogen

Carbon dioxide

Acetate

Methane

Carbon dioxide

Process

management and

input material are

determinative for

end product

ExtractionADAD Carboxylates

ConversionsPlatform chemicals

Picture modified from Layton et al 2016 Metabol Eng Com 3:245

Plastics

Rubber

Cosmetics

Food additives

Feed

Biomass for AD

Residues from

biofuel production

Food waste

Manure

Waste water

sludge

H2 via

windpower

Residues from

pulp and paper

Crop/

Crop residues

Algae

CO

CO2

H2

Acetate

Acetone

Ethanol

Butanol

Butandiol

…..and

Gases from gasification of wood and straw

Acetogens – key players

The future biorefinery

Organic matter

(Solid, Liquid,Gaseous)

“Carboxylates”Solid fraction

AD1 AD2

Methane

Nutrient

Protein (Feed)Platform chemicals

Energy