Following the operation of the lab-scale continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs), the project is moving forward with the validation of the bioaugmentation process in an upscaled 5 L continuous reactor. This step is essential to bridge the gap between laboratory-scale experiments and real-world applications in industrial biogas production. To prepare for the upscale, a sufficient volume of composite bioaugmentation inoculum is gradually produced which will be concentrated and preserved according to the best strategy developed in earlier stages of the project.
The 5 L reactor start-up is operating using manure to achieve stable performance. Once the system stabilizes and bioaugmentation results from the CSTRs experiment are retrieved, lignocellulosic and ammonia-rich substrates will be introduced to induce process inhibition, simulating the challenges faced in full-scale biogas plants. At this point, the preserved composite inoculum will be applied to the reactor to initiate bioaugmentation, while maintaining continuous operation.
Performance is monitored continuously, focusing on the reactor’s performance, especially on reactor recovery time, efficiency of lignocellulose and ammonia degradation, overall enhancement of biogas production when the bioaugmentation will be applied. If necessary, the bioaugmentation strategy will be refined and reapplied, ensuring robust and reproducible results. The ultimate goal of this stage is to validate an applied bioaugmentation strategy that can be directly translated into full-scale industrial operations as a practical, scalable, and effective bioaugmentation platform. This platform will offer a reliable solution for managing inhibition caused by lignocellulosic and ammonia-rich substrates, supporting higher efficiency, resilience, and sustainability in biogas production.