Skip to content Accessibility statement
Department of Biology
HomeDepartment of BiologyResearch and impactCentre of Excellence for Anaerobic DigestionResource recovery

Resource recovery

We are testing and deploying novel technologies for recovering more from waste.

CEAD is leading research into the sustainable transformation of underutilised and waste biomass into industrial products such as methane, hydrogen, and organic acids. 

Our work focuses on the use of anaerobic digestion and dark fermentation systems to process a wide variety of feedstocks, including seaweed, wastewaters, cereal straws, animal slurries and food waste. CEAD is tailoring strategies to optimise hydrolysis and microbial accessibility and improve product yields based on the unique biochemical challenges of each feedstock. 

The team regularly work with both anaerobic bacteria and fungi (Neocallimastix), applying pure and mixed culture systems to selectively produce target compounds. In parallel, we use advanced molecular biology techniques to isolate and characterise enzymes directly involved in biomass degradation and having potential in industrial biomass biorefineries built for resource recovery. 

CEAD has further expertise in the sustainable recovery of resources from digestates and fermentation broths, with specialised knowledge in areas such as electrodialysis, monitoring of antibiotics and industrial pyrolysis. And our research is supported by CEAD’s state-of-the-art facilities, and strengthened through collaboration with colleagues and shared equipment such as the Bioscience Technology Facility.

“Our multidisciplinary approach and the wide range of equipment at our disposal enable us to combine fundamental biological understanding with applied science for developing and delivering resource recovery solutions to industry. We continually strive to steer our scientific research with a firm eye on the feasibility of industrial upscaling and not just novel discovery.“

Dr Matt Reilly, Assistant Professor and Building Industry Engagement and Impact (BIEI) Fellow.

Activities and partnerships

Organic Acid Recovery

Work supported BBSRC NIBB funding and Carbonovia Ltd.  to develop the production and recovery of organic acids during cereal straw fermentation by integration of electrodialysis systems.

Biomethane

Our team has been supporting Yorkshire Water by using our lab-scale continuously-fed anaerobic digesters to develop processes which increase the recovery of biomethane from wastewater by making minimal upgrades to existing assets. We have also been collaborating with Staples Vegetables Ltd. to develop novel fermentation processes for industrial scale anaerobic digestion of agricultural wastes, with strong focus and expertise on anaerobic conversion of lignocellulosic material.

Biohydrogen

We have worked with both regional and international partners on the development of novel dark fermentation systems for the recovery of hydrogen fuel from biomass wastes. For example, our recent work with academic and industrial partners in the UK, Uganda and Brazil worked towards deployment of dark fermentation in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC).