Feasibility study for the use of anaerobic digestion and biogas energy generation at a meat processing facility

Summary

In-vessel anaerobic digestion offers high-rate treatment with low footprint, although often at a higher cost than conventional wastewater treatment systems in the red meat industry. Increasing encroachment due to urbanisation and increased cost of energy production offer excellent encouragement for the red meat industry to undertake research into in-vessel anaerobic digestion. Whereas covered anaerobic lagoons still have higher adoption rates due to less cost, interest in in-vessel anaerobic digestion is on the rise. A number of research projects have been conducted to develop the right operating parametres for wastewater with high levels of fats, oils and greases. Further, a number of feasibility studies have been undertaken by industry to identify technical and economic feasibility of implementing in-vessel reactors on-site.