Biogas digesters: from plastics and bricks to textile bioreactor– A review

Regina J. Patinvoh; Joseph V. Arulappan; Fredrik Johansson; Mohammad J. Taherzadeh

Authors

Regina J. Patinvoh Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, 50190 Borås, Sweden | Department of Chemical and Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Lagos State, University, Lagos, Nigeria
Joseph V. Arulappan FOV Biogas, India, Velachery, Chennai-42 , India
Fredrik Johansson FOV Fabrics AB, 50113 Borås, Sweden
Mohammad J. Taherzadeh Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, 50190 Borås, Sweden

Keywords:

Biogas digesters, materials of construction, plastic bioreactors, textile bioreactors

Abstract

Biogas technology and anaerobic digestion is a well-established process for energy generation but there are still technical and economicbarriers to advancement of this technology especially in developing countries. Considering the relatively long retention time of the materials inside the bioreactors, the material of construction of the bioreactor is important for commercial applications and should be selected considering cost, lifespan, effectiveness, design and operation of the bioreactor. The design and operation of particularly householdand smaller bioreactors with their challenges are reviewed in this study. A particular attention is made to the new textile bioreactors that are relatively new in the market. The laboratory and pilot scale results shows that the innovative textile bioreactor is a promising technology for global energy generation advancement.