Renewable Bio-energy Production from Wastes and Wastewater in China

Herbert H. P. Fang, Chair, Professor of Environmental Engineering, University of Hong Kong

Abstract

Anaerobic processes are able to produce renewable energy from various forms of waste biomass, and thus have recently attracted much attention worldwide, including in China. Using an anaerobic process, as compared to the more conventional aerobic processes for waste and wastewater treatment, saves the energy needed for aeration and produces only about one-tenth the amount of sludge, the disposal of which is very costly. In addition, anaerobic processes are able to convert the chemical energy in the waste biomass into a readily useful form of energy, i.e. methane and/or hydrogen. In this presentation, the principle and the history of anaerobic treatment technology will first be introduced, followed by the recent developments and applications of the process in China to the treatment of industrial and municipal wastewater, as well as livestock and agricultural wastes. A number of photos related to the treatment reactors and systems taken in recent months will be shown.

Herbert H. P. Fang, Chair Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Hong Kong is an expert in environmental biotechnologies, including anaerobic degradation, nutrient removal, membrane separation, biofilm, bioremediation, etc. He has published over 160 journal articles, and is the Editorial Board Member of Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology (Springer), International Journal of Anaerobic Digestion and Renewable Energy (Serials Publications), and a former Editorial Board Member of Chemosphere (Elsevier), Biofilms (Cambridge), Advances in Environmental Research (Elsevier) and World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (Kluwer). Professor Fang is also a visiting Professor at 13 universities in China and Taiwan. He is the Editor of the new book "Environmental Anaerobic Technology: Applications and New Developments" (published by Imperial College Press, October, 2010).