Anaerobic Digestion

The process of turning waste into biogas, making fuel and fertilizer

Off-grid anaerobic digestion is demonstrated in temperate climate.

This project has the potential to

• convert GHG emissions from decomposing waste to fuel,

• lower costs and impacts of waste management, and

• lower costs and the environmental impacts of fertilizer production.

Aerial View of OHIO Composting

Ohio University has the largest in-vessel composting facility at any American University.

Video about turning beer waste to biogas

Lab member Tess made a short video outlining the process of turning local beer brewing waste into biogas at our anaerobic digester.   Enjoy!

Funding sources: Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation, United States Department of Agriculture, 1804 Fund

Publications:

Herman T, Nungesser E, Miller KE, Davis SC. 2022. Comparative fuel yield from anaerobic digestion of emerging food and brewery systems. Energies 15: 1538 https://doi.org/103390/en15041538.

Miller K, Herman T, Philipinanto D, Davis SC. 2021. Anaerobic digestion of food waste, brewery waste, and agricultural residues in an off-grid continuous reactor. Sustainability 13, https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126509.

Miller KE, Grossman E, Stuart BJ, Davis SC. 2020. Pilot-scale biogas production in a temperate climate using variable food waste. Biomass and Bioenergy 138: 105568.

Davis SC, Kauneckis D, Kruse NA, Miller KE, Zimmer M, Dabelko GD. 2016. Closing the loop: integrative systems management of waste in food, energy, and water systems. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences 6:11-24.