Sludge & energy
METHANATOR™
Anaerobic digestion and biogas upgrading through to bioCNG.
Anaerobic digestion that turns organic load into methane-rich biogas: available as CSTR, UASB or AnMBR depending on the stream.
The METHANATOR technology is an advanced anaerobic digestion system that efficiently converts organic waste into methane-rich biogas through optimized microbial processes. Employing reactor configurations such as Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactors (CSTR), Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors (AnMBR), and Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blankets (UASB), it enhances the breakdown of organic matter under controlled, oxygen-free conditions. The result: higher methane yields, stabilized digestate, and significant energy recovery, ideal for sustainable waste management, renewable energy generation, and lower greenhouse-gas emissions.
How it works
The process
The METHANATOR converts organic waste into biogas by anaerobic digestion, carried out by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen. The organic material breaks down in stages, hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis, producing biogas that is mostly methane and can be used as a renewable fuel. The process also yields liquid digestate and digested sludge, which can be repurposed or treated further. Reactor choice follows the stream: CSTR for high solids, UASB where TSS is low and COD high, AnMBR for ultra-high concentrations.
Specifications
| Reactor configurations | CSTR, UASB, AnMBR |
| Mesophilic operation | 37–41 °C |
| Thermophilic operation | 52–55 °C |
| Breakdown stages | Hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, methanogenesis |
| Products | Methane-rich biogas, liquid digestate, digested sludge |
Key advantages
- Efficiently treats both wastewater and organic waste
- Suitable for sewage sludge, biomass and industrial wastes
- Mesophilic and thermophilic options
- CSTR, UASB and AnMBR configurations available
- Recovers energy instead of paying to aerate the load
- Produces a stabilised digestate
Gallery
Where it is applied
- Food industry
- Agriculture
- Breweries
- Distilleries
- Chemical
- Pharmaceutical
- General industrial
Case studies
Written up with commissioning data, influent and effluent.
Reference plants
The largest 5 of 21 plants delivered with METHANATOR, 1988–2017.
| Plant | Location | Capacity | Year | Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nagykanizsa | Nagykanizsa, Hungary | 21,250 m³/day | 2012 | ACTIVATOR · METHANATOR |
| Békéscsaba | Békéscsaba, Hungary | 20,000 m³/day | 2012 | ACTIVATOR · METHANATOR |
| Eger | Eger, Hungary | 19,700 m³/day | 2017 | METHANATOR |
| Zalaegerszeg | Zalaegerszeg, Hungary | 17,000 m³/day | 2010 | ACTIVATOR · METHANATOR |
| Kall Ingredients (Tisza-TK) | Tiszapüspöki, Hungary | 5,500 m³/day | 2015 | BIODEC S 200 ×4 |
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