Its a very slow process.
Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is not just a process; it's a beacon of hope for waste treatment and renewable energy generation. It harnesses the power of microorganisms to decompose organic matter in an oxygen-deprived environment, producing biogas (primarily methane and carbon dioxide) as a byproduct. This biogas, a potential game-changer in the renewable energy sector, holds the key to a more sustainable future, as it can be utilized for electricity generation, heat production, or transportation fuel. AD's potential in waste treatment and renewable energy generation is a reason for optimism and hope for a more sustainable future.
The anaerobic digestionprocess begins with bacterial hydrolysis of the input materials. Insoluble organic polymers, such as carbohydrates, are broken down into soluble derivatives that become available for other bacteria. Acidogenic bacteria converts sugars and amino acids into carbon dioxide, hydrogen, ammonia, and organic acids. In acetogenesis, bacteria convert these resulting organic acids into acetic acid and additional ammonia, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide, amongst other compounds. Finally, methanogens convert these products to methane and carbon dioxide (1). Methanogenic archaea populations are indispensable in anaerobic wastewater treatments (2). Anaerobic activity depends on the growth andmetabolic activity of these microorganisms working in a syntropic and symbiotic manner governed by substrate utilization and bacterial growth rate (3).
The scientific communityhas been working to enhance the Anaerobic Digester methane production rate. However, optimizing AD efficiency is a collaborative but complex challenge that researchers are constantly exploring. It's not just about increasing biogas production, improving digester stability, and streamlining the process. We're also delving into a promising area of investigation that could be the key to these challenges: the potential of external fields forces (EFFs) in optimizing AD performance. The potential of EFFs in AD optimization is an exciting prospect that could significantly change the field.