ABSTRACT

An Italian company specialized in fermentation systems, including Solid State Fermentation (SSF) and production process for biotechnological products, is preparing a SME-Instrument phase I proposal, related to the development of a new biogas plant technology. The project aim is to produce high value organic fertilizers, while recovering the waste heat energy. An experienced biogas plant builder from Germany, Austria or Switzerland is sought for a Research&Development cooperation agreement.

FULL DESCRIPTION

The Italian biotech company specialized in fermentation systems, including Solid State Fermentation (SSF), and production process for biotechnological products, has a deep experience in the fields of research, engineering and industrial asset evaluation, due to the involvement in complex systems engineering, project management and supply.
The company is developing a new biogas plant technology, with the aim to use the nutrients present in the two digestion fractions, solid and liquid, for high value organic fertilizers production, and at the same time increasing the biogas conversion efficiency.
The digestion products of biogas plants, where the feed is usually corn silage, sorghum, triticale and other vegetable, are composed by a solid fraction, containing lignin and cellulose, and a liquid one, rich in ammonium and macro-elements (N-P-K: Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium). The utilization of the digestion products generates many problems, as the need of large storage when it cannot be distributed on soil and, more important, the pollution due to the emission of ammonia into the atmosphere with persistent smells, especially during the summer season, the increase of nitrates in the soil (resulting in the Nitrates Directive infringement), the proliferation of harmful insects to crops, etc.
With the new proposed technology, both digestion products, the solid and the liquid one, are subjected to a specific treatment.
The 'Liquid' chain allows the replacement or the supplement of the microflora present in the digestion fraction (responsible for the anaerobic fermentation) with aerobic heterotrophic microorganisms able to recover the macro elements and organic matter, and above all, to assimilate the ammonia and convert it into protein nitrogen. The final goal is to obtain an organic-mineral fertilizer, containing useful microflora for agriculture (for example, growth promoter microorganisms for plants), of high quality, lowering the emission of methane and ammonia and avoiding the common practices, expensive and questionable from an agronomic point of view.
Regarding the 'Solid' chain, the composting of the solid fraction allows the degradation of lignin, a substance that consume the nitrogen in the soil (the microorganisms need nitrogen to degrade lignin, so remove nutrients to plants), getting a final product rich in substances useful for agronomic use, such as humic acids and other organic acids.
The new process is potentially applicable to all installations producing biogas with silage or other agricultural feed.
The Italian company is planning to sell or, if requested, give on loan the facilities and know-how for such production to every interested operator; the company is also able to ensure the sale of the obtained fertilizer through its contacts network, if the owner of the new plant has not access to distribution channels.
The company is interested in submitting a proposal related to the development of the new biogas plant technology under the Call EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020: SME instrument – phase 1.
To complete the skills required by the project development, an experienced biogas plant builder from Germany, Austria or Switzerland is sought. Under a Research & Development cooperation agreement, its role will include the cooperation in the new technology engineering activities, with specific reference to the retrofit aspects of the existing plants in its own country, and the plant construction.
The deadline for expressions of interest is the 15th of January 2019, as the Italian company is planning to submit its project proposal at the cut-off date of the 13th of February 2019.
The duration of the phase I project will be six months, but a more extended collaboration with the biogas plant builder is very wished.