Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a biological process that converts waste organic matter into methane-rich biogas, which can then be captured to generate renewable energy. Additionally, AD generates a liquid fertilizer with reduced solids and increased dissolved nutrients. While AD has been conventionally used in the wastewater treatment and animal waste industry, its use has been limited in land-based aquaculture. Most previous research studies have been limited to lab-scale experiments, restricting their applicability to real-world systems. For AD to be successfully adopted in the land-based aquaculture industry, pilot-scale trials are necessary to understand long-term operational needs and challenges.
Over the last few years, researchers at The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute have conducted several lab-scale AD studies that informed the design and construction of a pilot-scale digester for aquaculture wastewater treatment. Several challenges were encountered during the system’s construction, including selecting suitable equipment, addressing safety considerations, and managing other unforeseen variables. The presentation will cover the construction challenges and component functions of the pilot system, as well as highlight how lessons learned can inform future optimization and scaling of anaerobic treatment technologies for sustainable aquaculture operations.