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iBB Systems Can Enhance Other Bioconversion Processes

One Platform, Many Bioprocesses

So far, we’ve presented iBioBooster (iBB) as a system for speeding up and stabilizing anaerobic digestion, increasing the rate, quantity, and quality of biogas production.

The same core approach isn’t limited to biogas. It uses one or more automated sidestream bioreactors of 1–3 cubic meters (1,000–3,000 liters), far larger than laboratory or conventional pilot reactors, to do two things:

CULTIVATE Key Host Microbes

Rapidly grow the host process’s own key microbes, whether a mixed consortium or a single strain, then return them to the process as an enriched inoculant

MODEL Host Process

Replicate the host process at meaningful scale, producing reliable data to analyze and optimize full-plant operation

In principle, this approach can apply to any industrial bioconversion process that uses microorganisms (archaea, bacteria, yeasts, fungi, algae, or genetically engineered strains) to convert a substrate for a specific purpose. These processes fall into two broad categories:

BIOPRODUCTION AND RESOURCE RECOVERY

Producing useful products and recovering valuable materials
  • Ethanol (fuel), methanol, hydrogen, and other biofuels or biofuel precursors
  • Renewable methane from waste CO₂ in cement and steel production
  • Biofertilizers and soil amendments
  • Renewable chemicals and bioplastics
  • Biostimulants and microbial protein
  • Metals recovery from electronic waste
  • Gold, copper, and cobalt recovery from mineral ores

BIOTREATMENT AND BIOREMEDIATION

Removing, destroying, or immobilizing undesirable materials
  • Treatment of hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water
  • Heavy metal removal, such as arsenic and mercury, from waste streams
  • Industrial-scale composting to destroy pathogens
  • Bioremediation of contaminated soil and groundwater
  • Aerobic wastewater treatment and aerobic digestion

BIO-IMPROVED EFFICIENCY SYSTEMS (BIE) FOR AEROBIC PROCESSES

BIE Systems(TM) rapidly increase and sustain aerobic microbial populations (requiring oxygen) in aerobic processes, applying automation, bioacceleration, and bioaugmentation methods and tools similar to those of iBB Systems.  BIE Systems can be applied to enhance the performance  aerobic digesters and key stages of circular waste management systems. 

Improve stability

Improve plant biological stability and consistency, even under changing operating conditions (potential)

  • Improve management of alkalinity and pH
  • Reduce foaming and stalling
  • Recover faster after upsets

Boost Digester Performance

Accelerate and elevate performance in aerobic bacterial processes such as wastewater treatment aerobic digestion; industrial-scale composting

  • Improve reliability of volatile solids destruction and oxygen-uptake compliance
  • Reduce retention time and increase throughput (if consistent with regulatory requirements)
  • Improved consistency in colder temperatures

Reduce Costs

Shrink operating costs 

Reduce:

  • chemical additive volumes
  • use of non-native microbes
  • energy costs for aeration
  • digested sludge water content, weight, and hauling costs

Integrate Advanced Controls

Integrate advanced hardware, software, and biological controls to increase process efficiency.