Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-12-22T12:31:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Suelen Pavi_.pdf: 1636176 bytes, checksum: 0dd7b68d6b59964f41170ff034254b8d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-22T12:31:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Suelen Pavi_.pdf: 1636176 bytes, checksum: 0dd7b68d6b59964f41170ff034254b8d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-19 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / PROSUP - Programa de Suporte à Pós-Gradução de Instituições de Ensino Particulares / UNISINOS - Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos / A digestão anaeróbia (DA) de resíduos é uma opção ambientalmente adequada para o tratamento de resíduos orgânicos e produção de biogás. Contudo, a eficiência do processo é influenciada por diversos fatores, incluindo a composição do substrato. Resíduos de hortifrutigranjeiros (RHF) apresentam propriedades físico-químicas adequadas para sua utilização como fonte energética. Porém, o alto teor de açúcares simples contido nas frutas e vegetais tende a acidificar o meio, inibindo a atividade dos microrganismos metanogênicos. A co-digestão com outros resíduos é uma alternativa para melhorar a estabilidade do processo. A fração orgânica dos resíduos sólidos urbanos (FORSU) também possui grande potencial energético que pode ser recuperado, e quando em co-digestão com RHF, a produção de biogás pode ser aumentada. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo buscou avaliar a produção de biogás a partir da co-digestão da FORSU com RHF, visando estabelecer uma proporção ótima onde a produção de biogás é máxima, sem danos à estabilidade do processo. O estudo foi realizado em quatro fases, em regime de batelada a 35 °C, empregando lodo anaeróbio como inóculo na relação S/I de 1/1 em termos de sólidos totais voláteis (STV). A massa de STV adicionada nos reatores foi a mesma em todas as condições. Foram testados a FORSU (Fase I) e os RHF (Fase IV) como mono-substrato e a co-digestão desses resíduos nas relações FORSU/RHF de 1/1 (Fase II) e de 1/3 (Fase III) em termos de STV. Os parâmetros monitorados foram pH, teor de sólidos totais e voláteis, carbono orgânico total, alcalinidade, ácidos graxos voláteis, ácidos orgânicos voláteis e volume de biogás. O biogás foi caracterizado quanto a teores de metano. Os resíduos aplicados na co-digestão e o biossólido final foram caracterizados quanto ao pH, teores de sólidos totais e voláteis, carbono orgânico total, alcalinidade, ácidos graxos voláteis, ácidos orgânicos voláteis, nitrogênio total e amoniacal e fósforo total. O processo de DA manteve-se estável em todas as condições de alimentação. Os resultados revelaram que a produção de biogás foi maior nas bateladas onde a FORSU e os RHF foram aplicados em co-digestão, em relação às bateladas que utilizaram FORSU e RHF como mono-substrato. A relação FORSU/RHF de 1/3 produziu o maior volume de biogás e obteve o maior rendimento de metano em função dos STV de resíduos aplicados, sendo 493,46 NL/kgSTV e 393,64 NL/kgSTV, respectivamente. / Anaerobic digestion (AD) of waste is an environmentally sound option for the treatment of organic waste and produce biogas. However, the process efficiency is influenced by several factors, including the composition of the substrate. Fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) have suitable physicochemical properties for use as an energy source. However, the high content of simple sugars contained in fruits and vegetables tend to acidify, inhibiting the activity of methanogens. The co-digestion of wastes is an alternative to improve process stability. The organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) also has great energy potential that can be recovered, and when co-digestion with FVW, biogas production can be increased. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the production of biogas from the co-digestion of OFMSW with FVW, to establish a great proportion where biogas production is maximum, without damage to the process stability. The study was conducted in four phases, batch system at 35 ° C, using anaerobic sludge as inoculum in the ratio S/I 1/1 in terms of the total volatile solids (VS). The VS mass added in the reactors was the same in all conditions. Were tested OFMSW (Phase I) and FVW (Phase IV) as mono- substrates and co-digestion of these wastes in relationships OFMSW/FVW 1/1 (Phase II) and 1/3 (Phase III) in terms of VS. The monitored parameters were pH, total and volatile solids, total organic carbon, alkalinity, volatile fatty acids, volatile organic acids and volume of biogas. Biogas was characterized as methane levels. Waste applied in co-digestion and the final biosolids were analyzed for pH, total and volatile solids content, total organic carbon, alkalinity, volatile fatty acids, volatile fatty acids, and total ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus. The AD process remained stable in all power conditions. The results show that biogas production was higher in batches where OFMSW and FVW were applied by co-digestion in relation to batches that used OFMSW and FVW as mono-substrate. The relationship OFMSW/FVW of 1/3 produced the highest volume of biogas and obtained the higher yield of methane due to the VS applied to waste, being 493,46 NL/kgVS and 393,64 NL/kgVS respectively.

A liquefação hidrotermal (HTL) é uma tecnologia muito utilizada para a conversão de diversos tipos de biomassa em Bio-óleo bruto; contudo, enquanto tal combustível é produzido uma fase aquosa (PHWW), rica em matéria orgânica e alguns compostos tóxicos, também é gerada, podendo ocasionar severos impactos ambientais negativos. O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi aplicar dois bio-adsorventes: in natura (BAA) e ativado quimicamente (BAAA), derivados da casca de amendoim, como pré-tratamentos da PHWW afim de melhorar sua biodegradabilidade anaeróbia. O carvão ativado granular (GAC) foi utilizado como adsorvente modelo para comparação. Os processos de adsorção foram otimizados com a utilização de desenhos compostos centrais rotacionais (DCCR), no quais as variáveis independentes foram: pH do adsorvato, temperatura e quantidade de (bio) adsorvente no meio. A porcentagem de remoção de DQO e do íon amônio foram as variáveis dependentes. Isotermas de adsorção foram obtidas em ensaios em batelada. Após realizado o estudo do processo de adsorção, o potencial metanogênico dos efluentes pré-tratados e do efluente in natura foi determinado. Esses ensaios foram conduzidos com três concentrações de PHWW (6,5%, 13% e 26%), com dois ensaios controle, um negativo e outro positivo. A pressão nos frascos reatores foi monitorada diariamente e a determinação da composição do biogás produzido foi realizada por cromatografia gasosa uma vez por semana. Os resultados para a processo adsortivo foram encorajadores, uma vez que cada bio-adsorvente testado foi otimizado para diferentes variáveis resposta: BAA (NH4+) e BAAA (DQO). Os ensaios anaeróbios mostraram que uma maior taxa de produção metanogênica, dos efluentes pré-tratados, pode estar ligada à modificação química da superfície nas cascas de amendoim. Foi possível concluir que a bio-adsorção se perfila como uma alternativa sustentável para o pré-tratamento de efluentes advindos da HTL de cianobactérias. / Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a technology widely used for the conversion of several types of biomass to bio-crude oil; however, while such a fuel is produced an aqueous phase (PHWW), rich in organic matter and some toxic compounds, is also generated and can cause severe negative environmental impacts. The objective of the present research was to apply two bio-adsorbents: peanut bio-adsorbent (PB) and activated peanut bio-adsorbent (APB), as pre-treatments of PHWW to improve their anaerobic biodegradability. Granular activated carbon (GAC) was used as an absorbent model for comparison. The adsorption process was optimized with the use of central rotational composite designs (DCCR), in which the independent variables were: pH of the adsorbate, temperature and amount of (bio) adsorbent in the medium. The percentage of COD removal and ammonium ion were the dependent variables. After the study of the adsorption process, the methanogenic potential of the pretreated effluents and raw PHWW was determined. These trials were conducted with three concentrations of PHWW (6.5%, 13% and 26%), with two control trials, one negative and one positive. The pressure in the reactor flasks was monitored daily and the composition of the biogas produced was determined by gas chromatography once a week. The results for the adsorption process were encouraging, and ach bio-adsorbent tested was optimized for different response variables: PB (NH4+) and APB (COD). The anaerobic assays showed that a higher rate of methanogenic production of pretreated effluents may be linked to the chemical modification of the surface in the peanut shells. It was possible to conclude that the bio adsorption is outlined as a sustainable alternative for the pretreatment of effluents coming from HTL.

<p>In light of constant research regarding the development of alternate fuels, anaerobic digestion of grains diluted in process water from a wastewater treatment plant has been investigaed by starting biogas reactors to produce methane. The possibility of using the sludge from the reactors as fertilizer was also explored. The experiment ran for 90 days of which three days were used to collect samples over a 24-hour period. Variables monitored were associated to process stability, consistency and production. The results of the 24-hour periods show that volatile fatty acids concentrations increase immediately following feeding, peak a few hours later then decrease. Gas production is most efficient at the beginning of the period then stagers after about 20 hours. Results of the 90-day period resemble the 24-hour results; high volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations are often linked to low gas production and methane concentrations. The results indicate that certain types of process waters are better suited as dilution liquids than others i.e. digested sludge is better than centrifugation water, though overall gas production in all reactors averaged ca 650 ml/ g volatile solids loaded. With regards to fertilizer use, Cr was the only metal that was measured in unacceptable quantities. Fertilizing the land is not a problem seen from the heavy metals perspective. There is, however, a need for further research and process development before any full-scale digestion processes of this type are initiated.</p>

<p>Biogas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, is produced in the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. After anaerobic digestion, the digested sludge is often allowed to degas for one or two days. This gas is seldom utilised, but if the degassing could be accelerated, utilisation would be easier. Ultrasound can be used as a pretreatment method for waste activated sludge. It has a disintegrating effect on the sludge and causes lysis of bacteria in the sludge. It also speeds up the hydrolysis; the limiting step of anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge. Ultrasound can be used to degas waterbased liquids. Ultrasonic degassing of sewage sludge has not been examined previously. The present study aims to investigate the effect of ultrasound on waste activated sludge as well as the potential of ultrasound to speed up the degassing of digested sludge. A semi-continuous, lab-scale digestion experiment was performed with four reactors: two receiving untreated sludge and two receiving treated sludge. The effect of the sonicator was 420 W and the treatment time was 6 min, which corresponds to an energy input of 8.4 kWh/m³. Total solids (TS) of the waste activated sludge was ~3.5 %. The ultrasonic treatment caused an increase in gas production of 13 %. There was no difference in methane content. The concentration of filterable chemical oxygen demand (fCOD) increased 375 %, or from 2.8 % to 11 % of total COD. In terms of energy loss/gain the increase in gas production resulted in a loss of 2.7 kWh/m³, i.e. more energy is needed to treat the sludge than the potential energy of the increased gas production. However, if the sludge is thickened to a TS >5 %, a net energy gain should be reached. The effect of ultrasound on the degassing of digested sludge was examined in three barrels. The degassing was measured with and without circulation as well as with ultrasonic treatment. The digested sludge had a gas emission rate of 115 L/(m³ day). No direct burst of gas occurred due to ultrasonic treatment. Over two days more gas was emitted from the barrel equipped with ultrasound, probably due to an induced post-digestion. Thus, ultrasonic pretreatment of waste activated sludge increases the biogas yield. It is inconclusive, whether ultrasonic treatment of digested sludge effects the degassing or not.</p>

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic and persistent anthropogenic contaminants. Concern on their adverse health effects has led to their regulation in air, water and/or soil in addition to sludge. Hence, removal of PCBs in various matrices, including transformer oils (TO) is a priority. This study aims to investigate PCB-118 and Aroclor 1254 toxicity and dechlorination by varying certain critical experimental components including electron donor (sludge or fatty acids), inocula (unacclimated or acclimated culture) and the doses of PCB and TO under anaerobic conditions. Anaerobic toxicity assays (ATA) reactors, lab-scale anaerobic batch digesters and sediment microcosms were used for this purpose. Increase in PCB-118 and TO doses affected anaerobic digester performance by negatively influencing methanogenesis, while favoring dechlorination only with the increase in PCB-118 dose. Up to 22% PCB-118 removal was attained with unacclimated culture. Studies with acclimated cultures showed Grasse River (GR) sediment to be the most active when compared to Fox River and Baltimore Harbor sediments. In GR sediment microcosms, PCB-118 and Aroclor 1254 removal efficiencies decreased when TO was present (1%), while 10% TO inhibited PCB dechlorination. Waste activated sludge was shown to be an effective electron donor, similar to fatty acids. Aroclor 1254 dechlorination was dechlorinated through removal of flanked meta and para chlorines, however, dechlorination pathways appeared to differ according to the presence/absence of TO. No ortho or unflanked chlorines were removed. Molecular tools (qPCR and DHPLC) were used to confirm the presence of active PCB dechlorinators. Dechlorination of PCBs was shown to be growth-linked.

Scum is an integral component of solids management in MWWTP and is composed of fats, oils, grease and other entrained floatable materials that are collected during primary clarification. Lab scale BMP tests showed the addition of 14.5 g VS/L of scum exhibited the greatest increase in biogas production of 1.6 times per g VS added compared to the control, while a higher additional scum loading of 33.7 g VS/L reduced the biogas yield to 32% of the control reactor. Lab scale semi-continuous digestion measured the effects of scum loading and temperature of pretreatment in the scum concentrator. At 15 d and 20 d HRTs the greatest observed improvement in biogas was achieved by adding 3% scum by volume and pretreating the scum at 70°C in a scum concentrator with respective improvements of 24% and 16%.

The development and patenting of a new technology for the anaerobic digestion of solid waste is described. The design basis is explained and justified by extensive reference to the literature. The technology was specifically designed to be versatile, robust and affordable and is directly derived from other proven processes for organic waste management. The ways in which environmental regulations directly affect the development and commercialization of organic waste processing technologies are described. The great differences in regulations between Europe and North America are analyzed to explain why anaerobic digestion is common in Europe and rare in North America and why this is the result of waste management economics which are driven by these regulations. The new technology is shown to be competitive in the Province of Ontario in particular and North America in general; a detailed financial analysis and comparison with European technologies is provided in support of this conclusion.

The development and patenting of a new technology for the anaerobic digestion of solid waste is described. The design basis is explained and justified by extensive reference to the literature. The technology was specifically designed to be versatile, robust and affordable and is directly derived from other proven processes for organic waste management. The ways in which environmental regulations directly affect the development and commercialization of organic waste processing technologies are described. The great differences in regulations between Europe and North America are analyzed to explain why anaerobic digestion is common in Europe and rare in North America and why this is the result of waste management economics which are driven by these regulations. The new technology is shown to be competitive in the Province of Ontario in particular and North America in general; a detailed financial analysis and comparison with European technologies is provided in support of this conclusion.

Els residus carnis, o subproductes animals, són interessants per al procés de digestióanaeròbia i producció de biogàs, donat el seu elevat potencial energètic i l'actual marc legislatiu que prima la producció d'energia renovable. Tot i així, l'elevat contingut en lípids i proteïnes d'aquests residus pot limitar el seu tractament en introduir fenòmens d'inhibició, dels quals el més important és el produït pels àcids grassos de cadena llarga (AGCL), resultants de la hidròlisi dels lípids. L'objectiu de la present tesis és aprofundir en el coneixement d'aquest procés d'inhibició, en la capacitat d'adaptació dels microorganismes i en la recuperació o prevenció dels fenòmens d'inhibició. En una primera aproximació a la problemàtica, es caracteritzen residus orgànics d'escorxador, s'estudia la seva biodegradabilitat anaeròbia amb diferents relacions lípids/proteïnes i es realitzen assaigs discontinus seqüencials incrementant la concentració de substrat mitjançant pulsos consecutius. Es comprova que la hidròlisi i acidogènesi de proteïnes és molt ràpida i que la degradació dels lípids i AGCL limita la velocitat global del procés. Malgrat aquesta limitació, el sistema es recupera després dels pulsos aplicats, tot augmentant la taxa màxima de producció de metà. Per tal d'estudiar el fenòmen de recuperació, s'estudien i desenvolupen diferents estratègies en reactors sotmesos a processos d'inhibició per AGCL. L'increment dels ratis biomassa/AGCL o l'adició d'additius com la bentonita, per tal de reduir la biodisponibilitat o l'adsorció dels AGCL sobre la biomassa activa, es mostren com estratègies funcionals d'utilitat en l'operació de plantes industrials. Els resultats obtinguts reforcen la hipòtesi de que la inhibició és deguda a adsorció d'AGCL sobre la membrana cel·lular i que la recuperació es pot mesurar mitjançant un augment de l'activitat dels microorganismes. Per tal de dilucidar sobre la natura del augment de l'activitat en els processos de recuperació es caracteritza la inhibició-recuperació mitjançant tres tècniques: 1) estudi de les activitats dels microorganismes a diferents substrats 2) utilització de tècniques de biologia molecular per caracteritzar les poblacions, i 3) desenvolupant expressions cinètiques del procés d'inhibició, basades en l'adsorció, en el marc del model matemàtic ADM1 de la International Water Association. Mitjançant aquestes metodologies es comprova que els fenòmens d'inhibició i adaptació es poden explicar mitjançant un creixement poblacional específic i la inclusió dels fenòmens físic d'adsorció en el procés d'inhibició metabòlica. Finalment, s'avalua de forma més detallada el procés d'adsorció-inhibició mitjançant la determinació de les isotermes d'adsorció i monitoritzant mitjançant assaigs amb biomassa granular i tècniques de microscòpia de fluorescència. Aquesta caracterització ha permès obtenir estratègies de prevenció de la inhibició per AGCL, mitjançant competència amb adsorbents sintètics, i concloure que l'àcid palmític és el limitant en el procés de -oxidaciódels AGCL. Els resultats obtinguts constitueixen una base per al millor coneixement de les possibilitats de tractament anaerobi del residus carnis i dels processos d'inhibició per AGCL i adaptació de la biomassa. El procés físic d'adsorció ha estat directament relacionat amb el fenòmen d'inhibició metabòlica, obtenint-se una descripció matemàtica del mateix. Els resultats han permès plantejar estratègies operacionals, sent una eina a disposició d'operadors de plantes de biogàs per optimitzar la producció d'energia d'aquests residus >mitjançant la seva digestió anaeròbia. / Los residuos cárnicos, o subproductos animales, son interesantes para el proceso de digestión anaerobia y producción de biogás, dado su elevado potencial energético y el actual marco legal que prima la producción de energía renovable. A pesar de esto, el elevado contenido en lípidos y proteínas puede limitar su tratamiento, al introducir fenómenos de inhibición, de los cuales el más importante es el producido por ácidos grasos de cadena larga (AGCL), resultado de la hidrólisis de los lípidos. El objetivo de la presente tesis es profundizar en el conocimiento de este proceso de inhibición, en la capacidad de adaptación de los microorganismos t en la recuperación de sistemas inhibidos. En una primera aproximación a la problemática, se caracterizan los residuos orgánicos de matadero, se estudia su biodegradabilidad anaerobia con diferentes relaciones lípido/proteína y se realizan ensayos discontinuos secuenciales incrementando la concentración de substrato mediante pulsos consecutivos. Se comprueba que la hidrólisis y acidogénesis de las proteínas es muy rápido y que la degradación de lípidos y AGCL limita la velocidad global del proceso. A pesar de esta limitación, el sistema se recupera después de los pulsos aplicados aumentando la tasa máxima de producción de metano. A fin de estudiar el fenómeno de recuperación, se estudian y desarrollan diferentes estrategias en reactores inhibidos por AGCL. El incremento de los ratios biomasa/AGCL o la adición de aditivos como la bentonita, a fin de reducir la biodisponibilidad o la adsorción de los AGCL sobre la biomasa activa, se muestran estrategias funcionales de utilidad en la operación de plantas industriales. Los resultados obtenidos refuerzan la hipótesis de que la inhibición es debida a adsorción de AGCL sobre la membrana celular y que la recuperación se puede medir mediante un aumento de la actividad de los microorganismos. A fin de dilucidar sobre la naturaleza del aumento de la actividad en los procesos de recuperación se caracteriza la inhibición mediante tres técnicas: 1) estudio de las actividades de los microorganismos a diferentes substratos, 2) utilización de técnicas de biología molecular para caracterizar las poblaciones, y 3) desarrollando expresiones cinéticas del proceso de inhibición, basado en la adsorbió, en el marco del modelo ADM1 de la International Water Association. Mediante estas metodologías se comprueba que los fenómenos de inhibición y adaptación se pueden explicar mediante un crecimiento poblacional específico y la inclusión de la adsorción en el proceso de inhibición metabólica. Finalmente, se evalúa de forma detallada el proceso de adsorción-inhibición mediante la determinación de las isotermas de adsorción y monitorizando estos procesos mediante ensayos discontinuos con biomasa granular y técnicas de microscopia de fluorescencia. Esta caracterización ha permitido obtener estrategias de prevención de la inhibición por AGCL, mediante competencia con adsorbentes sintéticos, y concluir que el ácido palmítico es el limitante en el proceso de mutante -oxidación de los AGCL. Los resultados obtenidos constituyen una base para el mejor conocimiento de las posibilidades de tratamiento anaerobio de residuos cárnicos y de los procesos de inhibición por AGCL y adaptación de la biomasa. El proceso físico de adsorción se ha relacionado directamente con el fenómeno de inhibición metabólica, obteniéndose una descripción matemática del mismo. Los resultados han permitido plantear estrategias operacionales, siendo una herramienta a disposición de operadores de plantas de biogás para optimizar la producción de energía de estos residuos mediante su digestión anaerobia. / Slaughterhouse wastes are interesting for the anaerobic digestion process regarding its high biogas production potential and because the current legal scenario promotes renewable energy production. The high lipid and protein content of those residues limit its treatment due to inhibitory processes, in particular the inhibition caused by long chain fatty acids (LCFA). The objective of the present disertation is to obtain a deeper insight on the LCFA inhibition process, the microorganism adaptation ability and the prevention/recovery of inhibitory phenomena. In a preliminary approach, organic wastes generated in slaughterhouses are characterized, by studying the anaerobic biodegradability of waste mixtures containing diferents lipid/proteins concentrations. Anaerobic batch tests are performed at increasing substrate concentrations by sequential pulse feeding. From those experiments, the fast hydrolysis-acidogenesis of proteins is verified, being the lipids and LCFA degradation the main limiting step of the overall anaerobic process. Despite this limitation, the system is able to recover up to a higher methane production rate after each applied pulse. In order to elucidate on the mechanisms of the recovery process, several strategies to recover LCFA inhibited reactors are tested. The increase of the biomass/LCFA ratio and the adition of bentonite to reduce the biodisponibility or the adsorption of LCFA over microbial cell walls, are found to be effective approaches in the operation of fullscale biogas plants. The obtained results reinforce the hypothesis of the adsorptive nature of the LCFA inhibition, and that the recovery process can be followed as an increase in the microbial activity. The nature of the reported microbial activity improvement after subsequent sytem inhibition is characterized by three different techniques: 1) the study of specific microbial activities on different model substrates, 2) the application of molecular biology tools to monitor the microbial population structure and, 3) the development of kinetic expressions of the LCFA inhibition phenomena, based on the adsorption process, within the framework of ADM1 model of the International Water Association. The combined analysis of those confirmed that inhibition and adaptation phenomena are explained by a specific microbial growth, including adsorption in the metabolic LCFA inhibition process. The adsorption-inhibition process is evaluated in detail by determining LCFA adsorption isotherms on granular sludge, LCFA toxicity test, and fluorescence microscopy techniques. This multidisciplinary approach results in the definition of an inhibition preventing strategy based on the introduction of competitive adsorbents, and on stating the importance ofpalmitate during ß-oxidation of LCFA. This study contributes to the understanding of slaughterhouse wastes anaerobic treatment, the LCFA inhibition process, and the biomass adaptation phenomena. The physical adsorption process has been directly related with the LCFA metabolic inhibition, and a new mathematical kinetic expression is proposed. New strategies guiding the operation of anaerobic reactors are suggested in order to obtain high renewable energy yields from slaughterhouse wastes digestion.

All products will eventually end up as waste, which in a sustainable society has to be handled in an efficient and environment friendly way. This report focuses on waste fractions meant for combustion, often difficult to characterize. However, more homogeneous fractions that are treated biologically are also discussed. The study concerns the region of Borås, Sweden, where the waste plant Sobacken has provided a good starting point. On this site, fuel to the Energy-from-Waste plant of Borås Energi is prepared and the biological waste is treated through anaerobic digestion. One important part of the study has been to collect experience-based knowledge from the technical staff at Sobacken and Borås Energi. This information was compiled into an overview of wanted and unwanted fractions to the preparation plant and the boilers respectively. The purpose of this overview is to complement existing delivery terms and thereby facilitate an increased quality of the fuel from the suppliers. A significant element of the analysis has been to characterize the content of the industrial waste sent to Sobacken for combustion. Chemical analyses of the prepared fuel as well as the conducted waste component analysis indicate a heterogeneous composition of the waste. A heterogeneous fuel often results in an uneven combustion, leading to higher emissions and an unwanted variation in the energy production. Through the waste component analysis, a comprehensive picture of the waste composition was attained. Materials non-valid for delivery mostly consisted of wet domestic waste (biodegradable materials), but some hazardous waste was also found. The results of the waste component analysis were communicated to the involved suppliers and this has already resulted in a considerable reduction of the amount of biodegradable waste in the deliveries of industrial waste. / Förr eller senare blir alla produkter avfall, som i ett uthålligt samhälle måste hanteras på ett resurssnålt och miljövänligt sätt. Det här arbetet är främst inriktat mot de svåridentifierade fraktionerna som är ämnade för förbränning, men berör även de mer homogena fraktionerna som behandlas biologiskt genom rötning. Arbetet har utförts i Boråsregionen där Sobackens avfallsanläggning, med beredning av avfallsbränsle till Borås Energis två FB-pannor och rötkammare, har utgjort en naturlig utgångspunkt. Ett stort inslag i arbetet var sammanställning av erfarenhetsbaserade kunskaper hos driftteknikerna på beredningsanläggningen, liksom hos Anders Johnsson på Borås Energi. På detta sätt erhölls viktig information om både bra och dåliga fraktioner, för såväl avfallskross som för pannor. Dessa fakta har bland annat använts för att sätta samman en översikt över önskade respektive oönskade fraktioner. Översikten är tänkt som komplement till befintliga leveransregler, i syfte att förenkla för avfallsleverantörerna. Stor vikt har lagts vid att försöka kartlägga sammansättningen av det verksamhetsavfall som kommer in till Sobackens beredningsanläggning. Både kemiska analyser av bränsleprov och utförd plockanalys visar på en heterogen sammansättning i avfallet. Ett heterogent bränsle brinner i många fall ojämt, vilket resulterar i högre emissionsnivåer samt en icke-önskvärd variation i energiproduktion. I och med plockanalysen erhölls en övergripande bild av förbränningsavfallets sammansättning. Det icke leveransgilla materialet som påträffades utgjordes främst av blött hushållsavfall (biologiskt nedbrytbart material), men även av en del elektronik påträffades. Efter avslutad analys kommunicerades erhållna resultat med aktuella leverantörer, vilket hittills har resulterat i en betydande minskning av biologiskt nedbrytbart material i verksamhetsavfallet.