Yeast Fermentation Composition for Microbubble Sewage Sludge Digestion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wastewater treatment processes are inadequate for effectively removing a wide variety of contaminants and do not efficiently produce biogas for energy generation from sewage sludge, as they are often specific to single contaminants and unstable in operation.
Innovation Solution
A bio-catalytic composition comprising a pasteurized fermentation supernatant from a Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture and a non-ionic surfactant, which forms ultra-fine microbubbles to enhance oxygen transfer and enzymatic activity, facilitating the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge to produce biogas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wastewater treatment processes are used, then specific contaminants can be targeted, but the variety of contaminants found in wastewater cannot be effectively addressed and operational stability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a multi-functional treatment system that combines aerobic digestion, anaerobic digestion, and nutrient recovery in a single integrated process. The aerobic/anaerobic digester system can simultaneously treat multiple types of contaminants including organic matter, nutrients, and pathogens, while the recovered nutrients are reused to cultivate algae that further treat contaminants, creating a universal solution for diverse wastewater contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges previously separate treatment processes into a unified system where aerobic digestion and anaerobic digestion are combined in sequence, and the nutrient recovery stream is merged with algae cultivation. This integration creates synergistic effects where the output of one process becomes the input for the next, improving both versatility and operational stability simultaneously.
2Productivity
If aerobic treatment processes are used, then organic matter can be degraded, but energy consumption is high and biogas production is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing an aerobic digestion stage before anaerobic digestion. The aerobic phase pre-treats the organic matter, partially degrading it and stabilizing the substrate, which then facilitates more efficient biogas production in the subsequent anaerobic phase. This sequential approach reduces the overall energy demand compared to using only aerobic treatment at high rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions by switching between aerobic (oxygen-present) and anaerobic (oxygen-absent) conditions in sequence. This phase transition allows the system to leverage the different metabolic pathways of microorganisms, achieving high organic matter degradation during aerobic phases while capturing energy in the form of biogas during anaerobic phases, thereby reducing net energy consumption.
3Productivity
If sludge volume is reduced through treatment, then treatment efficiency improves, but biogas production for energy generation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by separating the sludge treatment process into distinct aerobic and anaerobic phases, where the anaerobic phase specifically targets biogas production. Nutrients are also extracted from the sludge and reused for algae cultivation, which generates additional biomass that can be converted to energy. This multi-path extraction approach simultaneously achieves sludge reduction and maximizes biogas and energy recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by using the nutrients recovered from sludge treatment to cultivate algae, which in turn produces biomass that can be converted to additional energy. The system essentially uses its own waste products (nutrients) to generate further value (energy), creating a self-sustaining cycle that improves both treatment efficiency and energy production without requiring external inputs.
4Adaptability or versatility
If nutrient recovery is implemented, then resource efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nutrient recovery system applies self-service by using recovered nutrients to cultivate algae that treat wastewater and produce biomass for energy. The system feeds its own waste nutrients back into the process to generate useful products, creating a closed-loop system that recovers resources while maintaining operational simplicity through self-sustaining biological processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The nutrient recovery component serves multiple functions: it recovers valuable nutrients from sludge, cultivates algae for additional contaminant treatment, and produces biomass that can be converted to energy. This multi-functionality achieves resource efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity, as the same biological processes accomplish multiple objectives simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition significantly increases dissolved oxygen levels and enhances biogas production, reducing sludge volume and weight, while accelerating the degradation of organic pollutants and reducing volatile organic compounds, thus improving treatment efficiency and energy yield.
Implementation Method 1
a non-ionic surfactant, preferably selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated alkylphenols and/or long chain aliphatic alcohols
Implementation Method 2
forms ultra-fine microbubbles to enhance oxygen transfer
Implementation Method 3
a bio-catalytic composition comprising (a) a fermentation supernatant of a yeast formulation
Implementation Method 4
facilitating the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge to produce biogas
Implementation Method 5
Said bio-catalytic composition forms a functionalized surfactant in the form of highly structured, ultra-fine, microbubbles in said waste water, which microbubbles provide a readily available reserve of oxygen in the waste water by encapsulating oxygen therein
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a process for the treatment of sewage sludge with enzymes, which process comprises treating a sewage sludge resulting from the treatment of municipal or industrial waste water with a composition comprising a fermentation supernatant product from a Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture and a non-ionic surfactant, wherein said fermentation supernatant product is free of active enzymes, at conditions suitable for generating said active enzymes from said sewage sludge in situ.