Firstly, what is digestate and how is it treated?

Digestate is the end product of anaerobic digestion – a biological process that relies on microorganisms to decompose organic matter without the presence of oxygen. This method is widely used across the agriculture, food, and beverage industries as this process provides an environmentally friendly method of disposing of waste materials such as animal skins, stomach contents, fats, dairy products, and various other organic residues. During digestate treatment, the treatment plant will remove all water content from the digestate, leaving only solids. The wastewater will then be treated further to extract useful minerals such as phosphates and remove harmful waste such as bacteria. The treated wastewater can then be purified further to make it suitable for additional uses, and the useful nutrients can be readded to the digestate solids as required to make crop fertiliser and more. 

Why is digestate treatment necessary?

Digestate in its untreated state can contain harmful pathogens and pollutants (such as heavy metals), as well as become a breeding ground for bacteria and disease. If not properly treated, digestate can pollute nearby water sources, damage the local environment, and disrupt ecosystems. Although untreated digestate may contain lots of useful nutrients, when these are in such excess it can have a negative impact on wildlife, crop growth, and local communities (as well as causing inflammatory diseases in humans, amongst other conditions).

What are the main components of digestate?

Digestate is typically composed of water, organic matter, nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus), and residual contaminants (such as chemicals, heavy metals, and pathogens). The exact composition can vary depending on the industry and location as well as the anaerobic digestion process. A sample analysis can help determine the exact composition.

What are the common methods of digestate treatment?

The most common methods of digestate treatment include:

• Dewatering: This involves separating the liquid and solid parts to reduce volume and extract nutrients.
• Ammonia Stripping: This reduces the ammonia content to make the digestate more suitable for further applications such as soil conditions, fertilisers, and even animal feed.
• Biological or Chemical Treatment: In some instances, the digestate may be treated to reduce contaminants and odours through biological or chemical processes. Odours can additionally be minimised using air biofilters (such as wood chips) or activated charcoal filters.

What are the challenges of digestate treatment?

The key challenges of digestate treatment include:

• The cost of treatment: Digestate treatment can be expensive which is why we’re proud to deliver over 50% operational cost savings to our clients following the installation of our LAT Unit.
• Regulatory requirements: There are strict regulatory requirements for the treatment of digestate and these will vary per location all around the world. For example, in England and Wales, anaerobic digestion facilities cannot process more than 35,000 tonnes of digestate per site each year. 
• Storage & transportation capacity: moving waste off-site can be expensive and time-consuming. Depending on your facility’s location, storage can also become an issue if you are working at maximum capacity, especially if you are relying on third parties and external contractors. 

What are the opportunities associated with digestate treatment?

Digestate treatment and subsequent byproducts can not only help support the supply chain but can also provide additional sources of revenue for businesses. Biogas, for example, can be used as a sustainable fuel source; dewatered digestate can be used as soil conditioner; extracted minerals and nutrients can be used as supplements in soil condition; and lots more! Speak to our team to find out more about the opportunities for your business.

Can digestate be used as a fertiliser?

Digestate in its untreated form cannot be used as fertiliser, however, appropriately treated digestate can be used as fertiliser and is actually a more sustainable and eco-friendly way of creating fertiliser instead of relying on synthetic alternatives. As long as digestate meets local regulations for discharge and use on the land, it’s safe to use for agricultural purposes. 

How can I find the right digestate treatment solution for my specific needs?

When choosing the right digestate treatment solution, it’s important to ”shop around” and get a few different quotes from different companies who specialise in working with your industry. Check out our article on how to choose the right wastewater treatment company for your business for a detailed list of things to consider and contact our team for more information.

Contact The LAT Water Team

If you’re looking for a new industrial wastewater treatment provider with modern technology and around-the-clock support, contact our team on +44 (0)1635 635900 or by emailing info@lat-water.local. Download our corporate brochure for more details about our sustainable wastewater treatment solutions and check out the rest of our blog for more insights into the work that we do.

The post Digestate Treatment & Processing: Your Questions Answered appeared first on LAT Water.

At LAT Water, our team of experts work with companies across the UK as well as around the world in over 12 languages – providing international support and ensuring expert, localised knowledge of every area we operate in. As industrial manufacturing and associated processes produce some of the most toxic wastewater, we make it our mission to understand the chemicals, compounds, and substances that can be found in wastewater streams as well as finding the most effective and safe method of removal. 

This is why it’s important to work with an innovative wastewater treatment company that is an expert in their field!

Here are the top 12 services that are provided by industrial wastewater treatment companies such as LAT Water:

1. Bespoke Wastewater System Design

Industrial wastewater treatment companies such as ourselves have extensive expertise in designing customised treatment systems tailored to the specific needs of different manufacturing facilities in a range of countries across the world. We’ll consider factors such as wastewater composition, flow rate, and local regulatory requirements; as well as the physical location of the plant, the local climate, and more to design efficient and effective treatment processes – one size does not fit all in wastewater treatment! 

2. Advanced Treatment Technologies

To continue being able to provide innovative industrial wastewater treatment solutions that keep up to date with evolving modern standards, industrial wastewater treatment companies have to ensure they are updated on the latest industry developments and technological changes (including AI!). This also means that working with a specialised company reduces the pressure on your team to carry out this research, especially if you are short on resources or struggling to hire experts in this field.

3. Compliance Management

Regulatory compliance is a huge factor in many companies’ decision to work with an industrial wastewater treatment partner. Having the knowledge and experience to navigate permits, discharge limits, reporting requirements, and environmental compliance standards specific to industrial operations can not only be time-consuming but also very difficult to manage in-house without external support, especially if issues arise or changes to regulation disrupt your existing operations. This is where an external team can provide additional support and get you back on track.

4. Specialised Chemical Treatment

Industrial wastewater often contains complex and challenging contaminants that require specialised treatment approaches, especially for highly toxic or corrosive substances. Companies such as ours often employ chemists within the team who have expertise in chemical treatment methods and pH adjustment, which allows them to address specific pollutant types effectively and reduce harm to workers, the environment, and the wider public.

5. Resource Recovery

Unlike regular wastewater treatment companies, industrial wastewater treatment companies focus on resource recovery from wastewater streams, which is not only beneficial for building a more self-sustaining supply chain, but can also provide additional sources of revenue for your business! Our team can explore opportunities to extract and reuse valuable resources such as biogas, or further processes to create de-watered fertiliser, animal feed, soil conditioner, and lots more. 

6. Process Optimisation

Industrial wastewater treatment companies are usually better placed than most to understand the intricacies of different industrial processes across a range of sectors, and their knowledge gives them further insight into the impact on wastewater characteristics over time. Our teams can analyse performance and output which allows us to recommend optimised treatment options that ensure maximum efficiency, reduced energy consumption (even in winter!), and long-term cost savings. 

7. Emergency Response and 24/7 Support

Industrial facilities often work around the clock and may face unforeseen issues or emergencies related to wastewater treatment at inconvenient hours of the day or night! This is why our team offers 24/7 remote support and emergency response services to promptly address any disruptions, minimise your downtime, and mitigate potential environmental risks. In fact, as our LAT Unit can be controlled and monitored remotely, we will often be able to foresee issues before they’re reported – allowing us to act fast in resolving them before they impact your business operation.

8. Training and Education

Many industrial wastewater treatment companies such as ourselves can provide your teams with training and educational resources to help you make the most of not only the treatment plant’s functionality but also provide insight into your business’ wastewater composition. These training sessions usually cover topics such as system operation, maintenance, safety procedures, best practices for pollution prevention, and emergency risk management.

9. Performance Monitoring and Reporting

As our LAT Unit provides online monitoring and reporting, your team can view reports in almost real-time to ensure the continued effectiveness of the treatment systems. We can track key performance indicators, conduct regular sampling and analysis, and provide comprehensive reports on overall system performance, compliance, and efficiency. These reports have previously highlighted energy cost savings of over 70% for some of our biggest clients!

10. Ongoing Maintenance and System Upgrades

Your industrial wastewater treatment partner should provide routine maintenance services to help keep treatment systems operating optimally, especially following particularly hot or cold seasons. We can also recommend (and implement) a method for system upgrades or modifications suitable for your business to help adapt to evolving regulatory requirements over time. 

11. Cost Reduction

By reducing water consumption, minimising energy usage, and decreasing waste disposal costs, your organisation achieve significant cost reductions – but we appreciate this isn’t always possible! This is why our LAT Unit is specially designed to utilise waste heat as an energy input, thus significantly lowering your costs without changing any other parts of your standard processes. We can also implement a new water cooling system into your manufacturing process that uses treated wastewater instead of relying on freshwater resources – thus creating a self-sustaining, closed-loop system that directly improves your profitability and helps you achieve your environmental sustainability goals.

12. Positive Reputation

Showing a commitment to responsible wastewater management can enhance your company’s reputation, and working with a company such as LAT Water with growing recognition in environmental sustainability can be a huge plus! It helps demonstrate ethical business and supply chain practices as well as attracting environmentally-conscious clients, investors, and partners – ultimately leading to an increased market share and brand loyalty (especially amongst end consumers).

Contact The LAT Water Team

If you’re looking for a new industrial wastewater treatment provider with modern technology and around-the-clock support, contact our team on +44 (0)1635 635900 or by emailing info@lat-water.local. Download our corporate brochure for more details about our sustainable wastewater treatment solutions and check out the rest of our blog for more insights into the work that we do.

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What is digestate?

Digestate is the residual, nutrient-rich material that is left over following anaerobic digestion – a process which relies on bacteria to break down organic matter without the use of oxygen. This process is often used in the agricultural, food, and beverage industries as a way to dispose of otherwise unusable or discarded elements such as animal waste, stomach contents, fats, dairy products, and more. 

Is digestate a solid or a liquid?

It can be a combination of both – digestate comes in three distinct states: whole, liquor, and fibre. Whole refers to digestate in its unfiltered form which usually has a consistency similar to that of slurry or sludge and tends to contain 5% or less dry matter. Liquor is liquid digestate that has had most of the solid materials removed but some may still be dissolved in the wastewater. And lastly, fibre is the solid, dry material separated from whole digestate.

Common digestate by-product uses

Crop fertiliser 

Due to the richness of organic matter in digestate, the processed, dewatered digestate is ideal for use as fertiliser to promote healthy crop growth. It is an ideal alternative to synthetic fertiliser as it contains all the required nutrients without the need for artificial production and this makes it a cheaper form of fertiliser as well as enabling a more sustainable recycling process across many industries. 

Soil amendments 

Alongside being an effective crop fertiliser, digestate (specifically fibre digestate) can be used as a soil amendment or soil conditioner to improve the consistency of the soil structure, its ability to retain water, ease of plant root penetration, and more. Soil amendment is ideal for use during the autumn months ahead of winter; or in spring to promote healthy growth.

Animal feed supplements 

As digestate is rich in nitrogen, this makes it ideal for use in animal feed supplements. Nitrogen is essential for the production of skin tissue, milk, wool, and eggs, which is why supplements are used alongside a grass diet for many farm animals. 

Biogas fuels

One of the main by-products of anaerobic digestion is biogas – digestate treatment systems such as the LAT Unit can capture biogas for further processing so it can be used as vehicle fuel or even for heating or cooking. Biogas is usually composed of around 50-65% methane gas and around 35-50% carbon dioxide and it’s become a particularly popular renewable fuel in China with over 50 million households being powered by biogas. 

Alongside this, when biogas is upgraded to a higher percentage of methane and compressed, it can be used in vehicles as fuel. Biogas-powered vehicles can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 80% compared to traditional fossil fuels. 

Electricity generation 

Further to being a great source of fuel for powering homes and vehicles, biogas can additionally be used in combustion engines to power electric generators which produce electricity. On average, one cubic metre of biogas can generate 2 kWh of electricity, which is the equivalent of keeping a 100W bulb lit for 20 hours. 

Benefits of digestate recycling 

Alongside the benefits of using digestate by-products, recycling digestate also has wider environmental benefits including:

Improved waste management 

Effectively treating digestate and extracting useful by-products can reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers and mitigate the environmental impact of poor organic waste management. If released untreated into the environment, digestate can pollute ecosystems and have adverse effects on all plants and creatures due to the range of bacteria that may be present, resulting in a depletion of natural resources over time. Untreated digestate can contain harmful pathogens, heavy metals, and other contaminants – making the treatment process crucial. 

Alongside this, if organic waste is left to decompose in landfill, methane and other harmful gases will not be collected and will instead be released into the atmosphere – contributing further to greenhouse gas emissions. 

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions

As we mentioned above, organic waste will naturally decompose to produce greenhouse gases, however, when effective treatment solutions are employed, these gases can be collected and neutralised or recycled so they are not released into the atmosphere. Additionally, treating digestate on-site reduces the need for transport which will further reduce CO2 emissions as well as minimising organisational spend. 

Better water quality and availability 

Further to the positive effects on the atmosphere, collecting and adequately treating digestate can reduce odours and prevent freshwater contamination, which additionally prevents the spread of waterborne diseases. By treating digestate and recovering clean water with the LAT Unit, this also allows for better on-site water recycling and minimises the reliance on new freshwater resources, ensuring its availability for other uses such as household or recreational uses. 

Improved agricultural productivity 

One of the primary benefits of digestate treatment is that it increases nutrient availability – during the anaerobic digestion process, organic matter is broken down into simpler compounds, which results in the release of nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. When digestate is applied to the soil as a fertiliser or conditioner, it provides a slow-release source of nutrients that can sustain plant growth over an extended period.

Contact The LAT Water Team

Find out more about our wastewater management and digestate treatment solutions by contacting our team on +44 (0)1635 635900 or by emailing info@lat-water.local. Download our corporate brochure for more details.

The post Key Benefits of Digestate Treatment (Including Common By-Product Uses) appeared first on LAT Water.

Before installing a wastewater treatment plant, it’s important to consider factors such as:

• The environmental impact of the installation (e.g. is the location suitable and large enough?) 
• Long-term running costs and fuel efficiency (e.g. how much will it cost to run in winter vs summer?)
• Wastewater treatment quality and effectiveness (e.g. what percentage of clean water can be recovered?)
• Recycling opportunities (e.g. what happens to the byproducts of the process?) 

What does wastewater treatment involve? 

Wastewater treatment is a process used to clean wastewater so it can be reused or disposed of safely and in line with local government regulations. Wastewater will be fed into the system and passed through the treatment plant to separate and remove the contaminants, which will then be held for further processing as required, and clean water will be released. 

As different companies will produce varying quantities and types of wastewater, the wastewater treatment plants will be configured to work for each company’s output and will be aligned with their environmental goals. This can include a target minimum water recovery rate, or a target for wastewater recycling whereby some of the treated wastewater is used as an input to supplement the company’s freshwater demand. These considerations help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water pollutants, and waste disposal expenses for some of the world’s largest wastewater-producing industries. 

The benefits of modern wastewater treatment plants

Modern wastewater treatment plants have come a long way in improving water quality, reducing environmental pollution, and providing more efficient treatment of wastewater than ever before. With modern technology and automation, wastewater treatment plants are safer for the workers and the public, making maintenance and long-term upkeep easier. 

Furthermore, many modern wastewater treatment solutions are more energy-efficient than their predecessors, reducing the demand for expensive fuel. At LAT Water, for example, we’re proud to have created a pioneering new wastewater treatment solution which recirculates water vapour through the system using waste heat as an energy source to supplement additional energy input: thus greatly reducing the cost of running and maintenance. Depending on usage, the LAT Unit will not only cut your operational costs by half, but will also pay for itself through savings in only a number of years. 

Factors to consider when investing in a modern wastewater treatment plant

Capacity 

One of the most important things to consider when investing in a wastewater treatment plant is capacity: although wastewater treatment plants are large in size, their capacity might not be compatible with the amount or type of wastewater your company produces. This is why the team at LAT Water always offer (and recommend!) booking in a consultation which includes sample testing and a full wastewater analysis report. 

Cost

Naturally, one of the most important considerations from a business perspective will also be running costs. Wastewater treatment plants are known for using a significant amount of electricity as they operate 24/7, 365 days a year – and temperature fluctuations can result in spikes of energy use during cold spells, which can of course greatly increase your company’s bills. 

Temperature 

Furthermore, many wastewater management solutions struggle with extreme temperature variation as they have an optimal operating temperature (especially those which use aerobic processes as the bacteria will become dormant if temperatures drop too low). This can be a challenge in areas such as China which experience extremes between -10.6°C (13.0°F) and 25°C (77°F) throughout the year – however, for our client, Daxin Landfill in China, the weather did not pose a problem and the LAT Unit delivered over 95% uptime.

Environmental impacts 

A modern wastewater treatment plant is a valuable investment for any community as an effective solution can improve water quality in the local rivers, which can have a knock-on effect on habitats, farming, crops, and households; as well as providing better opportunities for recreational activities through reduced surface and groundwater pollution. Effective wastewater treatment can also improve air quality and reduce odours, as well as make areas more appealing and reduce waste dumping. 

Cost-effectiveness of modern wastewater treatment plants

Advancements in technology have driven innovation forward for wastewater treatment and made processes more sustainable, and faster, as well as reducing the chances of mechanical breakdown. However, as manufacturing and product development evolves every day and people develop new ways to manufacture textiles, construction materials, cleaning products, cosmetics, food products, and more, new contaminants are constantly being introduced into the environment. 

As many modern wastewater treatment plants now include sensors for identifying changes in wastewater composition, pH, temperature, and lots more; we can adapt more quickly to industry changes and ensure a high-quality output. At LAT Water, our equipment can analyse wastewater remotely in almost real time to detect variations, meaning our team can be sent out to conduct a full investigation quicker and provide a proactive response to any change. 

Alongside this, we pride ourselves in providing up to 95% clean water recovery from some types of wastewater, as well as significant energy savings. In a recent case study with Broadpath Landfill in Devon, LAT Water delivered an overall operational cost reduction of 48% and a further 70% reduction in energy use at the site. The bespoke LAT Unit provided to Broadpath Landfill was able to treat 10m³/day of raw leachate using only 7kwhr/m³ of electricity – creating an innovative new solution that not only saved the company money long-term but allowed them to reuse and recycle the treated wastewater and its useful compounds. 

Contact The LAT Water Team

Meet us at The World Biogas Expo 2023 at the NEC in Birmingham on the 29th – 30th of March. We’ll be available on both days of the conference at stand D205. 
You can also contact our team on +44 (0)1635 635900 or by emailing info@lat-water.local. Download our corporate brochure for more details about wastewater treatment solution

The post Benefits Of Investing In Modern Wastewater Treatment Plants appeared first on LAT Water.

While standard fertilisers have increased in cost by as much as 154% compared to previous years, LAT Water’s dewatered fertiliser helps to keep costs down, as well as reduce storage requirements for farmers, growers, and agriculturists. As the name suggests, dewatered fertiliser simply means liquid has been removed from the fertiliser to leave a drier fertiliser that is easier to spread onto the land. This helps lower transportation costs as well as operational costs of caring for land without any loss of nutrients as values of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are not compromised during the dewatering process. 

What are the differences between digestate and compost?

While digestate and compost may serve similar functions, they aren’t direct substitutes. Digestate is produced through anaerobic digestion – a process that takes in domestic, commercial / food industry waste, and agricultural waste and decomposes organic matter without the use of oxygen. Digestate can be used to enrich the soil with more nutrients to help crops grow which is why it’s the preferred option for LAT Water’s dewatered fertilisers.

Compost, on the other hand, uses oxygen throughout the decomposition process as the input waste is broken down by aerobic microorganisms. Inputs include green waste (such as garden waste) and food waste (domestic and commercial). The resulting fertiliser is a slower-release biofertiliser compared to digestate and it also contains more potash which supports plant growth as well as the water-retentive properties of the soil.

Why is digestate a good fertiliser?

1. Digestate stimulates crop growth 

Due to its nutrient-rich nature, digestate can improve the quality of soil to promote plant and crop growth and improve yield. As it contains balanced levels of naturally-occurring compounds, it also has a positive effect on the land’s ecosystems and is less disruptive than synthetic alternatives. 

In an article by AWSM Farming, Audrey Litterick of Earthcare Technical Ltd. commented on the effectiveness of using fibre digestate on spring barley crops and noted “excellent yields with no impact on crop quality”. 

2. It is better than slurry and manure 

On their own, slurry and manure can have a limited range of minerals that are required for optimal crop growth, and the amount of each mineral can also vary in concentration; whereas digestate can also include additional organic minerals which makes it a much richer source of nutrients. The process of anaerobic digestion can also reduce the odour of the fertiliser (especially compared to manure-based fertilisers), and dewatering the fertiliser also reduces storage requirements.

3. Digestate is more economical 

As the food and beverage industry continues to grow, waste and industrial wastewater from manufacturing activities provide a steady input steam for anaerobic digestors to produce digestate for fertiliser. With plentiful supply, costs are usually lower than other types of fertiliser and as it contains a rich concentration of nutrients smaller quantities can last longer. 

With LAT Water’s process of dewatering digestate, costs are reduced even further across production, transportation, storage, and even tankering. Dewatering is also fully-compliant with landspreading regulations, making it an ideal choice for many across the country.  

4. Acquiring digestate is more eco-friendly

Using digestate can create a more circular and sustainable production process as waste products can be used for nutrients for new crops. Alongside this, during the process of anaerobic digestion, harmful gases such as methane can be contained rather than being released into the atmosphere which helps reduce the effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gases. Anaerobic digestion can also help remove disease-causing microorganisms from digestate and protect humans, animals, and crops.

Contact The LAT Water Team

Find out more about our wastewater and digestate treatment solutions as well as our dewatered fertiliser products by contacting our team at +44 (0)1635 635900 or emailing info@lat-water.local. You can also download our corporate brochure.

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