ACTI-Mag increases the quality and quantity of the biogas coming from anaerobic systems, and provides a significant economic boost for biogas power plants, in operation.
case study summary
Challenges
- This plant treats palm oil mill effluent (POME) in a covered anaerobic lagoon, where the biogas generated is collected and converted to electricity.
- The plant approached Calix, via our distributor Maha Chemicals, to see if ACTI-Mag could help boost their biogas production.
Objective
- Demonstrate ACTI-Mag’s ability to increase the quantity of the biogas coming from the anaerobic system.
Solution
Download Success story
• ACTI-Mag, with its unique high surface area and high localised pH surface, is able to break down complex organic matter by hydrolysis into smaller units. This allows the biological system to convert organic matter into biogas more quickly, and generate more biogas.
• ACTI-Mag increases the quality and quantity of the biogas coming from anaerobic systems, and provides a significant economic boost for biogas power plants, in operation.
Download the PDF NowBenefits of ACTI-Mag
After a thorough inspection and analysis of the plant’s operations and the anaerobic lagoon reactor, a series of samples were taken for bench-top trials. Several balloon and water displacement tests were undertaken to demonstrate ACTI-Mag’s ability to enhance biogas production at economical rates.
The outcome of these tests resulted in a 30-day plant trial to include ACTI-Mag as part of the operations of the biogas plant.
Introduction
In Asia power generation from waste streams is becoming an important and growing source of renewable energy. With crops like palm oil, cassava, or sugar, large quantities of waste are generated from industrial processes such as crushing and refining.
Palm oil mill effluent contains a high chemical oxygen demand (COD). Under anaerobic conditions, conversion to methane is approximately 25 times more harmful than greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. This poses a critical issue for palm oil mill owners as the emissions are harmful to humans and the environment. Governments are rapidly putting into place new regulations wherein mills are required to install biogas trapping or methane capture facilities.
Additional to a high COD, POME waste, particularly the liquid waste streams, has high suspended solids and quite often a low or acid pH, which means it has to be treated before safe discharge into the environment. This treatment usually includes anaerobic digestion followed by aerobic digestion.
This biogas power plant is treating POME in a covered anaerobic lagoon where the biogas generated is collected and converted to electricity. It is important to note that the lab tests detailed below were done during the low season, where there is usually less gas generated.
The plant approached Calix, via our distributor Maha Chemicals, to see if ACTI-Mag could boost their biogas production while providing interesting cost savings.
After a thorough plant inspection and analysis of historic data on the operation of the anaerobic lagoon or reactor, we organised a few tests. Methods and results are detailed below, to show how ACTI-Mag can be used to generate more biogas from the waste stream.
Looking for a 
