Executive summary
The Project titled “Optimization of Resources Recovery from Waste Biomass via Dark, Photo fermentation and Anaerobic Digestion: An Integrated Circular Biorefinery (ORWIC)” is an ongoing project at the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University. The project has been subdivided into four sub-topics as undergraduate final year project for fourth year Environmental Science and Engineering students. Lab-set up, bioreactors designs and development has completed and they have started the operation as well.
Pilot scale two-stage AD is also currently under operation. The inception seminar was held on 28th of December 2022, where we had Dr. Nabin Aryal, Associate Professor at University of South-Eastern Norway as our guest speaker.
Administrative and procurement process has delayed our project progress. Delay in arrival of devices and instruments have been one of the major reasons behind the deviation. The technological reviews for the three-stage bio-refinery system is ongoing. Reviewing and editing of literature reviews of final year project proposal and report in addition to other research papers took a little longer than expected. Lab-scale experiments have started and are ongoing. Pilot-scale photo-fermentation lab set-up is ongoing. Its experiment and continuous system have been designed and planned.
EnergizeNepal Quarterly Report
The quarterly report has been prepared by Resource Recovery Research Laboratory (Re3L), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University and Soil, Water and Air Testing Laboratories (SWAT Labs) Pvt. Ltd. indicating the progress from Oct 17th, 2022 to Jan 17th, 2023, of Year 1.
Project Staff
Project Applicant:
Project Administrator: Prof. Dr. Janardhan Lamichhane, Dean, School of Science, Kathmandu University
Principle Investigator: Dr. Anish Ghimire, Assistant Professor and Coordinator, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University
Research Assistant: Er. Meghna Rajbhandari
Project Partner:
Project Administration: Er. Lokesh Sapkota, Managing Director, SWAT Labs
Activity Leader and Researcher: Ms. Srijana Sharma, Laboratory Coordinator SWAT Labs
Project highlights (major accomplishments)
-
Literature Review for the three-stage bio-refinery system.
-
Lab-set up at new Environmental Block (28 B).
-
Fabrication and setting-up lab scale photo fermentation bioreactors (PNSB).
-
Setting-up pilot scale dark fermentation and anaerobic digestion reactor.
-
Division of the project into sub-topics for undergraduate final year projects.
-
Set-up of batch process bioreactors for pre-treatments, trace elements and two-stage anaerobic digestion (final year students project).
-
Operation of Photo-fermentation process using synthetic wastewater and KU’s wastewater.
-
Operation of lab-scale two-stage anaerobic digestion and chemical pre-treatments of rice straw.
-
Operation of lab-scale AD of food waste for methane production through trace elements supplementation
-
Operation of pilot scale two stage anaerobic digestion.
-
Successful completion of inception seminar on 28th Dec, 2022 at Alfa Beta House, Kathmandu.
Project key targets and Project status against key targets
The key targets for the first three months are as follows:
|
S.N. |
Project key targets |
Status against key targets |
Remarks |
|
1 |
Inception Seminar: The workshop/seminar will be conducted to finalize the methodologies and identify the potential human resources for creating an effective Project Management Unit (PMU). |
Completed |
Successfully held on 28th Dec, 2022. |
|
2 |
Setting-up batch process of photo fermentation |
Ongoing |
Rupesh Kaini and Kabita Khatri, 4th year ENE students are working on this topic |
|
3 |
Lab scale set-up and operation of AD bioreactors for pretreatments |
Ongoing |
Shreya Dahal and Shrabada Gurung, 4th year ES students |
|
4 |
Lab scale set-up and operation of AD bioreactors for trace elements supplementation |
Ongoing |
Atit Thakali and Abhishek Halwai, 4th year ENE students |
|
5 |
Lab scale and pilot scale set-up and operation of two stage anaerobic digestion process from food waste |
Ongoing |
lab scale- Sakshi Gorkhali and Barsha Maharjan, 4th year ES students |
|
6 |
Pilot-scale set up of Photo-fermentation process |
Started |
|
|
6 |
Characterization of substrates and steady-state operation of both bioreactors. |
Ongoing |
|
|
7 |
Technological Review for three stage process for bioenergy and biochemical production |
Started |
The review will come up with the appropriate technological and management solutions for solid waste using biorefinery |
Annual Plan
Deviation Analysis
- Act 1.1: Inception seminar was held on 28th dec, 2022 even though it was planned on the first month of project
- Act 1.2: Detail review on technology and parameters incorporating performance of biorefinery process is ongoing. It started later than the proposed date due to delay in recruitment process.
- Act 1.3: Waste characterization of food waste has completed, however it started later than the proposed date due to delay in procurement processes.
- Act 2.1: The mass balance and solution for trace elements supplementation have all been completed, however, it went beyond its proposed date due to delay in supply of chemicals.
Cross Cutting Issues
-
Climate and environment: The research project is environment friendly; in fact this project is based on the production of bio-energy and renewables driven to mitigate climate change.
-
Gender equality: The project is gender neutral and there is no discrimination.
-
Transparence on financial management: The recruitment process is transparent since the application was open-called. The finances and the procurement of the project are solely governed by as per the rules of School of Science, Kathmandu University.
-
Human rights: No individual has been restricted from any of their rights.
Risk Analysis
-
Due to delay of procurement process, project process has been delayed.
-
Delay of fund transfer led to delay of recruitment process.
-
Dark-fermentation reactor’s motor damage, delayed the pilot-scale feeding processes.
-
The lab-scale bioreactors designed for these research needs to be air-tight, i.e., anaerobic condition must prevail. Hence, making of these bioreactors were solely a hit and trial method. If the reactors did not prevail anaerobic condition, the bioreactor would need to be built again.
-
The inoculum was sampled from the Anaerobic Digestion of GWWTP. The transportation and storage of inoculum for longer time could change its properties, though not significantly.
-
Methane is a highly combustible gas, hence, there are hazards in laboratory that should not be neglected.
Financial statement:
The financial statement below is as per the ledger provided by SOS Account.
Amount in NPR
|
SN |
Application of Fund |
Approved Budget |
Expenses till (reporting period) |
||||||
|
Total |
ENEP Funding |
Others Source |
Total |
ENEP Funding |
Others Source |
||||
|
1 |
B.1.1 |
Payment to Meghna Rajbhandari salary |
November |
195,000 |
195,000 |
– |
30,933.33 |
30,933.33 |
|
|
December |
195,000 |
195,000 |
– |
32,000 |
32,000 |
||||
|
January |
195,000 |
195,000 |
– |
32,000 |
32,000 |
||||
|
February |
195,000 |
195,000 |
– |
32,000 |
32,000 |
||||
|
2 |
C.1.9 |
Refrigerator |
45,000 |
31,500 |
13,500 |
39,550 |
|||
|
3 |
C.2.3 |
Office Table and chairs |
40,000 |
28,000 |
12,000 |
41,200 |
|||
|
4 |
C.2.4 |
Office Cabinet |
20,000 |
14,000 |
6,000 |
19,000 |
|||
|
5 |
C.1.8 |
Batch-experimental Set-up for batch tests |
Mixing grinder |
500,000 |
350,000 |
150,000 |
14,000 |
||
|
Magnetic stirrer |
500,000 |
350,000 |
150,000 |
60,884 |
|||||
|
chemical dosing pump |
500,000 |
350,000 |
150,000 |
15,000 |
|||||
|
6 |
C.1.7 |
pH meter |
150,000 |
105,000 |
45,000 |
146,335 |
|||
|
7 |
D.1.1 |
consumables |
chemicals |
200,000 |
200,000 |
– |
46,104.00 |
||
|
chemicals |
200,000 |
200,000 |
– |
33,406.19 |
|||||
|
8 |
Advance cash -1 |
15,000 |
15,000 |
||||||
|
Total |
557,413 |
Expenses incurred by by DESE, KU |
|||||||
|
9 |
Industrial partner |
Inception Workshop |
50,000 |
Expenses incurred by Industrial partner |
|||||
|
Photofermentation reactor |
50,000 |
||||||||
|
Dark fermentation reactor fabrication |
150,000 |
||||||||
|
Biogas analyser rent |
50,000 |
||||||||
|
Sub-Total |
|||||||||
|
Total |
857,413 |
||||||||
Deviation Analysis
The ledger provided is not updated to date. There are other expenses too that has not been updated yet.
Annex 1: LFA matrix
|
SN |
Impact/ Outcome /Outputs |
Activities |
Performance Indication and Targets |
Baseline |
Means of Verification |
Assumptions |
|
1 |
Guidelines |
Literature review and experiments |
Guidelines, documents |
Existing literatures |
By comparison with available literatures |
Efficient research and results |
|
2. |
Support to Masters students |
Research trainings and support to master’s thesis |
Master’s thesis producing journals or research papers |
Need of a motivated researcher |
Thesis and publications |
Masters’ student from DESE will participate |
|
4. |
BMP of Rice straw though chemical pre-treatments |
AD of Rice straw is currently under operation. Good amount of gas has been producing to date. TS/VS of inoculum and substrate was conducted to find out SI ratio. |
Good amount of gas has been producing to date. Literature reviews on pre-treatments and its efficiency in methane production. |
Fourth year ES students. Existing literatures and papers |
Final year project report |
Efficient results, Paper publications and conferences |
|
5 |
BMP of AD of Food Waste through trace elements supplementation |
Mass balance for trace elements have been done. AD of food waste for different range of trace elements are currently under operation TS/VS of inoculum and substrate was conducted to find out SI ratio. |
Methane production and its efficiency after trace elements addition. Literature reviews on trace elements and its concentration |
Fourth year ENE students. Existing literatures and papers |
Final Year project report |
Efficient results, Paper publications and conferences |
|
6 |
Use of PNSB for kinetic parameters in wastewater |
Synthetic wastewater and KU’s domestic wastewater are used as substrate here. Monod kinetics growth of the microorganism is being studied. COD and Alkalinity dominant characteristic of the wastewater was created where the kinetic parameters are studies. |
Maroon color establishment from pastel pink, which indicates a good growth of PNSB. Literature reviews and research papers |
Fourth year ENE students. Existing literatures and papers |
Final Year project report |
Efficient results, Paper publications and conferences |
|
7. |
Optimal operating condition for two stage AD of food waste |
Semi-continuous two stage bioreactors; one for DF and another for AD. Under mesophilic condition, different OLR and HRT are maintained. Daily feeding of substrate, pH measurements and gas composition analysis. |
Gas composition measurement via gas analyzer. Gas volume measurement via water displacement method. A good range of methane production from AD and H2 production from DF. |
Fourth year ES students. Existing literatures and papers |
Final Year project report |
Efficient results, Paper publications and conferences |
|
8. |
Pilot scale Two stage AD of Food waste |
Inoculation of Anaerobic digestate and cow dung for AD. Inoculation of Anaerobic digestate and cow dung after pre heating for 1 hour at 90º C. |
Gas composition measurement via gas analyzer. A good range of methane production from AD and H2 production from DF. |
Existing literatures and papers |
Final Report |
Efficient results, Paper publications and conferences |
Annex 2: Project pictures
Figure 7: Inception Seminar at Alfa Beta House, Kathmandu
Annex 3: Project progress
Technical Progress
|
SN |
Project Activities |
Completed up to previous reporting period |
Completed on this reporting period |
Ongoing on this reporting period |
Remaining Activities |
Remarks |
|
A.1 |
Literature Review and Preparation of proposed research project |
|||||
|
A.1.1 |
Inception Seminar on biorefinery process for waste treatment and clean energy and bio-chemicals recovery |
Successfully completed on 28th Dec, 2022 |
||||
|
A.1.2 |
Detail Review on technology and parameters incorporating performance of biorefinery process |
|||||
|
A.1.3 |
Development and implementation of waste characterization |
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|
A.2 |
Laboratory and Pilot Scale Studies |
|||||
|
A.2.1 |
Fabrication and setting up lab-scale photo fermentation bioreactors. |
|||||
|
A.2.2 |
Determination of optimal operating parameters |
|||||
|
A.2.3 |
Design, fabrication and setting up lab-scale AD for chemical pretreatment of rice straw |
|||||
|
A.2.4 |
Design, fabrication and setting up lab-scale AD of food waste for trace elements supplementation |
|||||
|
A.2.5 |
Design, fabrication and setting up lab-scale two-stage AD of food waste for optimal operating conditions. |
|||||
|
A.2.6 |
Operation of lab-scale photo fermentation for kinetic parameter studies |
|||||
|
A.2.7 |
Operation of lab-scale AD for chemical pretreatment of rice straw |
|||||
|
A.2.8 |
Operation of lab-scale AD of food waste for trace elements supplementation |
|||||
|
A.2.9 |
Operation of lab-scale two-stage AD of food waste for optimal operating conditions. |
|||||
|
A.2.10 |
Setting-up of pilot scale two-stage AD |
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