This project focuses on advancing next-generation anaerobic digestion (AD) by integrating micro- and nanobubble technologies to improve renewable energy recovery from sewage sludge. Anaerobic digestion is a key waste-to-energy technology; however, challenges such as mass-transfer limitations, process instability, and high hydrogen sulfide levels in biogas continue to limit its performance and overall efficiency.

Building on previous Future Energy Systems (FES) research, this project aims to extend existing work by applying microaeration at a pilot scale and evaluating nanobubble applications at a bench scale. Microaeration will be optimized to enhance process stability and enable in-situ biogas desulfurization, while nanobubble technology will be investigated as a complementary approach to improve gas-liquid mass transfer and methane production.

The project is conducted in a fully equipped research facility using bench-scale and 100-L pilot-scale anaerobic digesters and benefits from ongoing collaboration with industry partners, including EPCOR. By combining laboratory and pilot-scale validation, this research seeks to generate practical, scalable knowledge to support the development of more robust, industry-ready anaerobic digestion systems and contribute to the production of high-quality biogas suitable for upgrading to renewable natural gas (RNG).