The CNETE (Centre national en électrochimie et en technologies environnementales inc.) is a center of technology transfer conducting applied research in the fields of bioprocesses and membrane technologies, applied to industrial molecules, environmental technologies, and bioenergy production.
The CNETE has an impressive park of process equipment and analysis on the cutting edge of technology. With a total value of $9M, process equipment available range from the lab scale to pilot scale.
Agitation of the four tanks, connected to the automate, using impeller pumps
Variable feed flow ranging from 5 L/min to 50 L/min
Fully watertight and made of stainless steel
Two-inch long inlet and outlet with valves for input and discharge of digestate
Outlet for gas collection in a Tedlar bag and septum for GC-TCD analysis
GCTCD biogas analysis (N2, O2, CO2, CH4) and FTIR (H2S)
Double wall coil heating, ranging from 21 °C to 60 °C
Possibility to test gas purification membranes at the exits of the two digesters
Examples of applications
Pre-pilot phase process development on a continuous basis (fed-batch)
Methane production mechanical parameter optimization (OLR, HRT)
Methane production physical-chemical parameter optimization (pH, T°C, etc.)
Long-term toxicity and inhibition tests relating to certain inputs / co-inputs
Assessment of biogas production using pre-treated inputs (enzymatic/thermal/chemical)
7-litre anaerobic digesters
Features
Six 7-litre digesters, with an effective working volume of 5 L
Mechanical blade agitation at a fixed speed of ~ 40 RPM
Fully watertight and made of stainless steel
Two-inch long inlet and outlet with valves for input and discharge
Outlet for gas collection in a Tedlar bag and septum for GC-TCD analysis
GCTCD biogas analysis (N2, O2, CO2, CH4) and FTIR (H2S)
Incubation in a temperature controlled or refrigerated bath ranging from 4 °C to 55 °C
Examples of applications
Maintenance of methanogen inoculum for the purpose of performing methane potential tests (BMP)
Continuous laboratory-scale process development (Fed-batch)
Methane production mechanical parameter optimization (OLR, HRT)
Methane production physical-chemical parameter optimization (pH, T°C, etc.)
Long-term toxicity and inhibition tests relating to certain inputs / co-inputs
In addition, through its extensive knowledge and expertise, the CNETE team has developed a software tool, Biometh i+, that functions as a decision-simulator for calculating the feeding stream of the digester and acts as a tutorial for decision making and conducting daily operations. This tool allows among others to calculate the mixture and the optimal dilution of inputs upon insertion in the process. In addition, this tool tags operations considering over 14 physical and chemical parameters simultaneously and makes recommendations in case of non-compliance levels of these parameters at the time of their determination.