BITS Hyderabad researchers develop faster organic waste treatment

Researchers at BITS Pilani Hyderabad have developed the SAAnA reactor, a three-phase system that treats organic waste 60 per cent faster than conventional methods. It boosts biogas yield, produces nutrient-rich biofertilizer and has secured a patent under the Kapila Scheme

Hyderabad: A team of researchers from the BITS Pilani – Hyderabad campus has come up with an innovative solution that processes organic waste more quickly and efficiently than existing methods.

Researcher Dr Atun Roy Choudhury and BITS Environmental Science and Technology (BEST) Lab professor Sankar Ganesh Palani developed the schematic and lab-scale Sandwich Aerobic-Anaerobic-Aerobic (SAAnA) reactor as a one-stop solution for organic waste treatment.

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Apart from addressing the limitations of conventional waste management systems by offering faster processing, the new solution can efficiently handle diverse organic wastes, including municipal solid waste, slaughterhouse waste, landfill leachate and fecal sludge.

Unlike single-stage anaerobic digestion technologies, which take up to 60 days for waste treatment, the reactor can process waste in 23 days, significantly enhancing biogas yield and biofertilizer quality.

According to researchers, SAAnA operates in three phases – aerobic pre-treatment for five days, where the organic waste is treated by aeration and turning, accelerating hydrolysis and acidogenesis phases of anaerobic digestion.

This is followed by anaerobic digestion during which waste undergoes biogas production in an oxygen-free environment. At this stage, a portion of the biogas (20%) is reintroduced into the chamber, elevating the reactor pressure and leading to higher methane-rich biogas yields. Finally, in the aerobic post-treatment, the remaining digestate is further processed into a high-quality biofertilizer, rich in essential nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

The researchers said the reactor can process multiple wastes, with faster treatment, that is, a 60 per cent reduction in time compared to conventional systems. The reactor can also generate high energy yield, that is, 0.8 cubic metres of biogas per kg of volatile solids, besides producing superior biofertilizer and being energy efficient.

“From municipal waste treatment plants to industrial organic waste processors, this technology has the potential to reshape the future of waste management, making cities cleaner, greener and more sustainable,” researchers said.

The researchers have also filed an Indian patent No. 202411062676, which has been recognised under the Kapila Scheme by the Government of India for its significant impact on waste management and renewable energy.