The Anaerobic Operational Change Study provides digester operators with a controlled, risk-free method to evaluate operational changes before full-scale implementation. It enables the assessment of pH adjustments, temperature shifts, loading rate modifications, or waste stream changes without disrupting existing processes. By replicating real-world conditions, the study delivers valuable insights on anaerobic digestion efficiency, biogas production, and long-term system stability.

Our Anaerobic Operational Change Studies begin with a prescreening test to assess the quality of received sludge before introducing it into two completely mixed mesophilic digesters. These digesters operate under controlled conditions for 8 weeks (56 days), during which we monitor biogas production and quality, soluble COD levels, pH, total solids (TS), and volatile solids (VS). This comprehensive testing process provides a detailed understanding of how a system responds to specific changes. Once the study is complete, we compile all collected data into a final report, delivered within 70 days or less from sample submission.

 

	Anaerobic Operational Change Study	Anaerobic Optimization Study
Micronutrients Analysis	Pre-screening	Pre-screening, Week 4, & Week 8
What are we testing	Changing one operational variable (eg. pH, Temp, SRT/HRT, New Feed)	Treatability study of up to 3 variables (eg. Metals Supplementation, Enzymes, Operational Change)
Control Digesters	1	1
# Test Digesters	1	3
Turnaround Time	10 weeks	10 weeks
TS, VS, Soluble COD, pH, & Viscosity How efficient your digester is at converting solids to biogas	Pre-screening & Weekly	Pre-screening & Weekly
% Carbohydrates* The main feed substrate in the anaerobic digester	Anthrone Method	Anthrone Method
% Proteins* Required for the degradation of carbohydrates	Lowry Method	Lowry Method
Short Chain Fatty Acids Measurement to show how efficiently methanogens are converting short chain fatty acids to methane Biogas Quality	Formic, Acetic, Propionic, Butyric, Valeric, & Caproic Acids	Formic, Acetic, Propionic, Butyric, Valeric, & Caproic Acids
Biogas Quantity Data The total biogas produced	Rate (mL/h)	Rate (mL/h)
Biogas Quality Data Focuses on measuring Methane percentage and hydrogen sulfide concentration	CH₄, H₂S, CO₂, O₂	CH₄, H₂S, CO₂, O₂
Test Kit included	2 x 2.5 Gallon Containers	4 x 2.5 Gallon Containers
Final Study Report	Surface level diagnostics	Detailed analysis on all optimization parameters

* These testing options are only available during the pre-screening phase of the study