Interreg

In the EMMA project, CCS and FHM integrate several newly developed fermentation processes that improve the efficiency and applicability of fermentation. The process begins with the separation of the resulting residues. Solid parts enter the hydrolysis reactor (degradation of large carbon structures such as celluloses and proteins), where fatty acids and hydrogen are produced under optimal conditions. The liquid parts from the separation process enter a fixed-bed digester with dissolved sugars, proteins and fats. Proteins and fats from these sugars are quickly processed into biogas (methane and carbon dioxide). Fatty acids from the hydrolysis reactor are also converted into biogas in this reactor. Finally, the hydrogen gas produced is injected into the fixed-bed digester so that methanation (conversion of hydrogen and carbon dioxide into methane) produces a larger proportion of the methane in the biogas.

The system works as an integrated whole. However, it also offers the possibility of using the intermediate products such as fatty acids and hydrogen for direct application.
The system becomes more complex by using several reactors and different flow rates. This has a cost-increasing effect. This can be compensated by the increase in efficiency (more biogas per biomass input) and a significant reduction in reactor volume, as the processes are more concentrated (hydrolysis) or faster (fixed-bed digestion).