Importance

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Abstract

A process control method, the method comprising the steps of: (i) Passing a portion of a biomass containing liquid from a first reactor (12) in which a batch anaerobic digestion of organic material is being or has been conducted to a liquid storage vessel (14), methane being produced in both the first reactor (12) and the liquid storage vessel (14); (ii) Passing a portion of the liquid from the liquid storage vessel (14) back to a first reactor (12) that may or may not be the same reactor (12) of step (i); (iii) Passing a portion of the liquid from either or both of the first reactor (12) and the liquid storage vessel (14) to a second reactor (16); and (iv) Passing a portion of the liquid from the second reactor (16) to either the liquid storage vessel (14) or to the first reactor (12), wherein the direction of liquid to the second reactor (16) allows control of the level of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the liquid to be returned to the first reactor (12) by way of exposure to additional anaerobic methanogenic microorganisms provided in that second reactor (16). An apparatus (10) for the control of process conditions in a process for the microbiological digestion of organic waste material is also disclosed.

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First Claim