Anaerobic Digestion of Bioplastics for Biogas Production

Begin with an anaerobic digester, a sealed, oxygen-free reactor seeded with a synthetic sludge that mimics the settled solids from wastewater.

The sludge contains mesophilic anaerobic microbes, a mixed microbial community.

These microbes thrive at moderate temperatures and drive the digestion of the sludge’s organic matter.

Continuously mix the sludge to sustain the bacterial activity and promote digestion.

Later, add bioplastics, which are biodegradable polymers, into the sludge.

During incubation, hydrolytic bacteria attach to the bioplastics and convert them into soluble compounds.

Fermentative bacteria then transform these compounds into volatile fatty acids, which are short-chain organic acids.

Methanogens, methane-producing microbes, utilize these acids to generate methane gas and carbon dioxide, forming biogas.

The biogas exits the reactor through the outlet and collects in a gas sampling bag.

This method of co-digestion enables the efficient digestion of bioplastics and sludge into renewable biogas.