Ethanol-nexus two-stage anaerobic digestion integrated with biochar in leveraging eco-treatment of agricultural wastes

Agricultural wastes, including manure, slurries, and crop residues, present significant environmental challenges in waste management. Improper disposal of these wastes can lead to greenhouse gas emissions, contamination of air, soil, and water, and public health risks, such as the spread of zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. With 92.8 million tonnes of agricultural waste produced annually in the EU, innovative treatment solutions are crucial for sustainable management and for achieving the goals of One Health Action. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a promising technology that converts organic waste into biogas and helps mitigate environmental risks and present opportunities for renewable energy. However, conventional mesophilic AD systems face challenges, including incomplete degradation, volatile fatty acid accumulation, and inadequate pathogen deactivation.This project, ENABLE, aims to revolutionize the AD process. My previous studies show that ethanol promotes syntrophic methanogenesis, and conductive materials (e.g., biochar) enhance electron transfer, both accelerating AD processes. By integrating ethanol pathway with conductive materials addition, the system seeks to improve both biogas yield and pathogen deactivation. The project will explore the microbial, metabolic, and genetic mechanisms underlying these improvements. The project will employ advanced tools including meta-omics, kinetic modelling, techno-economic analysis (TEA), and life cycle assessment (LCA) to optimize the system design and assess its environmental, economic, and social impacts. This approach offers a novel solution for agricultural waste management by reducing costs, enhancing energy recovery, and promoting public health, aligning with global sustainability goals. Collaborating with leading experts and institutions in academia and industry, this fellowship will not only advance research but also contribute to my professional development as a future leader in AD biotechnology.