Filip Velghe. OWS, Bélgica.

1. BioTRANSformation of by-products from fruit and
vegetable processing industry into valuable
BIOproducts
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Filip Velghe, OWS, 03/11/2015

2. Company profile
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
DRANCO technology – UG, 1983 (pilot in 1984)
Founded in 1988
Consolidated sales (2011-2013): 19 million €/yr
Export: 90%
70 employees
Head office: Gent, Belgium
Affiliates: OWS Inc., Dayton, Ohio, USA
DRANCO N.V.
BES GmbH, Germany
Partner: DJK International, Tokyo, Japan

3. Company profile
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
BIOGAS CONSULTING & SUPPORT

4. Biogas consultancy and support
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
BIOGAS CONSULTING & SUPPORT
Expert in anaerobic digestion processes with
25+ years of experience
Covering all possible AD processes available
worldwide
Unique combination of both biological and
mechanical/technical knowledge
Independent advice and guidance at each level
of AD

5. Biogas consultancy and support
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
BIOGAS CONSULTING & SUPPORT
Feasibility testing of the AD process
o Over the whole process chain: from
pretreatment over AD to post-treatment
o All necessary information to elaborate a full-
scale project
Continuous assistance for full-scale plants
o Start-up of AD plants
o Revamping of unstable AD plants
o Maintaining a stable AD process
o Increasing performance

6. Organic waste options
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
BIOGAS CONSULTING & SUPPORT
Treatment technologies for organic waste
o Landfill
o Incineration
o Composting
o Anaerobic digestion
o New biotechnological approaches

7. Landfill
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
BIOGAS CONSULTING & SUPPORT
Not sustainable
No recuperation of materials
No recuperation of nutrients
Sometimes recuperation of energy (landfill gas)
o Low efficiency (suboptimal conditions)
o Many leakages  CH4 emissions to air
 Discouraged in many countries (landfill ban /
taxes)

8. Incineration
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
BIOGAS CONSULTING & SUPPORT
Not sustainable
Limited recuperation of materials (e.g. metals from MSW)
No recuperation of nutrients (ashes are landfilled / low plant
availability of ash nutrients
Recuperation of energy
o Low efficiency (high moisture content in most organic waste)

9. Composting
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
BIOGAS CONSULTING & SUPPORT
Sustainable
Stabilization of organic waste
Recuperation of materials (soil improver)
Recuperation of nutrients as compost
No recovery of energy

10. Anaerobic digestion
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
BIOGAS CONSULTING & SUPPORT
Sustainable
Stabilization of organic waste
Recuperation of materials (soil improver)
Recuperation of nutrients as digestate or derived products (compost,
effluent, dewatered or dried cake…)
Recovery of energy (biogas)

11. Anaerobic digestion
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
BIOGAS CONSULTING & SUPPORT
CH4 + CO2
Organic matter
Consortium
of bacteria
35 °C - 55 °C
O2
BIOGAS = ENERGY
X
digestate

12. Anaerobic digestion
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
BIOGAS CONSULTING & SUPPORT
Several types
o Mesophilic – thermophilic
o Wet – dry digestion
o Single stage – multiple stage
o Monodigestion – co-digestion
o Batch – semi-continuous – continuous
o Hydraulic mixing – paddle mixers – propeller mixers
– pneumatic mixing – percolation – external mixing

13. Anaerobic digestion
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
BIOGAS CONSULTING & SUPPORT
Anaerobic
digestion
organic waste compost

14. Anaerobic digestion
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
BIOGAS CONSULTING & SUPPORT
spent biomass
anaerobic
digestion
compost
organic waste
bioproducts
biorefinerypretreatment

15. TRANSBIO
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Using by-products from food industry (e.g. from corn, potatoes,
banana,...)
Create high value bio-products:
o Enzymes
o Biopolymers: PHB
o Platform chemical: succinic acid
Remaining organic fraction of biotechnological processes: anaerobic
digestion
GOAL: reduce waste, maximise recycling (energy, fertilizer)
2 Steps: 1) 2 weeks anaerobic digestion test: BPP
2) Continuous digestion test

16. TRANSBIO
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Biogas production potential of untreated by-products
EUROPE
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Biogasproduction(NL/kgTS)
Test duration (Days)
Broccoli Cardoon Green bean Lettuce Potato Sweet corn

17. TRANSBIO
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Biogas production potential of TRANSBIO residues
COSTA-RICA
0.0
100.0
200.0
300.0
400.0
500.0
600.0
700.0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Biogasproduction(NL/kgTS)
Test duration (Days)
pressed banana pulp residue (CITA) pressed banana pulp residue (2) (CITA)

18. TRANSBIO
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
All basic wastes suitable for anaerobic digestion
o Good C/N ratio for anaerobic digestion
o High degradability to biogas
o Good methane content (50%)
What with solid fraction after hydrolysation of these wastes
to extract sugars for TRANSBIO fermentation processes?

19. TRANSBIO
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Biogas production potential of TRANSBIO wastes
SWEET CORN – solids after hydrolysation

20. TRANSBIO
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Biogas production potential of sweet corn residuals after
hydrolysis
o Optimal C/N ratio for anaerobic digestion
o High degradability to biogas
o Good methane content (55%)
o No significant decrease in biogas potential of rest material
after hydrolysis compared to untreated by-product
 Ideal feedstock for AD

21. TRANSBIO
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Biogas production potential of TRANSBIO wastes
POTATOES – solids after hydrolysis

22. TRANSBIO
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Biogas production potential of potato pulp residuals after
hydrolysis
o Good C/N ratio for anaerobic digestion, but at lower limit
o High degradability to biogas
o Good methane content (50%)
o No significant decrease in biogas potential of rest material
after hydrolysis compared to untreated by-product
o High levels of Na and K in solid fraction (potentially inhibitory
effect on AD)
 Suitable feedstock for AD?

23. TRANSBIO
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Continuous tests on sweet corn and potato pulp (after hydrolysis)
= simulation of full-scale digestion (loading rate, residence time,…)
Mesophilic (37°C) & Thermophilic (52°C)
Goal:
o evaluate process on long term
o stabile process
o toxic effects
o nutrients deficiency
Short term BPP-tests: promising results on hydrolysates of sweet
corn and potato pulp

24. TRANSBIO
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Continuous tests on sweet corn and potato pulp (after hydrolysis)
Input

25. TRANSBIO
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Continuous tests on sweet corn and potato pulp (after hydrolysis)
Biogas productivity

26. TRANSBIO CONCLUSIONS
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Continuous tests on sweet corn solids after hydrolysis
o Stable process at both 37°C and 52°C
o Nitrogen and micronutrient addition is needed
o Thermophilic highest loading rate
Continuous tests on potato pulp solids after hydrolysis
o Instable process at 52°C (related to high K conc)
o Stable process at 37°C
o Only micronutrient addition needed
Combination of both is possible at 52°C (and 37°C; not tested)
AD is successful concept to treat organic residuals

27. THANK YOU
A European Project supported within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
OWS nv
Dok Noord 5, 9000 Gent, Belgium
Email: filip.velghe@ows.be
Website: www.ows.be