Bioenergy laboratory

In the bioenergy laboratory, new processes and prototypes for the ecological transition are developed and tested. The technologies being studied belong to the sectors of the circular economy and renewable energy production, in particular biofuels.

The laboratory has an experimental set-up for biomethanation tests, a small-scale prototype for the conversion of organic waste, a small composter, two prototypes for upgrading biogas to biomethane via vacuum swing adsorption (VSA - PSA) on zeolites. In addition, a spectrophotometer, two multiparametric gas analyzers, equipment for sampling biogas / biomethane in ATEX environment are present for the execution of the analyzes.

A process on which research is particularly focused is anaerobic digestion for the production of biogas and biomethane: the main parameters of interest for the process control of anaerobic digestion are determined in the laboratory (total and volatile solids, chemical oxygen demand - COD, VFA, total nitrogen, nitric and ammoniacal, etc.). On request, samples and analyzes are also carried out for the certification of the quality of the biomethane to be introduced into the network, in service activities for third parties.

Other activities related to renewable energy carried out in the laboratory include the monitoring of odor emissions at purifiers and waste treatment plants, and characterization of gasification and pyrolysis products: char, syngas, liquid biofuels.

On the circular economy front, the laboratory carries out environmental assessment and certification of new products and new recycling strategies, including for example: the recycling of cellulose from personal absorbent products (PAP) for use in construction, of the marine litter and hard plastic waste, the production of cellulose acetate plates from cigarette butts.