Innovations in the Global Biogas industry

Professor Tonderayi S. Matambo is the Head of the Centre of Environmental Biotechnology in the Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the University of South Africa. He has over 15 years of experience in Biogas and Bioenergy. He actively engages in community outreach programs involving Biogas technology. He fosters collaboration between Unisa, other tertiary institutions and industry.Professor Riann Christian is an Associate Professor from the University of South Africa and is currently the Manager of Teaching and Learning support in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the University of South Africa. She has 18 years teaching and research experience in biological sciences (Molecular & Cell Biology and Genetics) and environmental biotechnology. Her research involves gene expression studies, malaria studies, molecular biology and environmental biotechnology.

• Section 1 Green advancements in organic waste management – AD Feedstock Management1. Pretreatments of animal feed for improved digestibility and its influence on biogas production2. Perspectives on the latest green approaches to biomass pretreatments for biogas production: What’s currently feasible and what’s not feasible – Chemical, Physical, Ultrasound, Microwave, Biological, etc.3. The pros and cons of green versus competing biomass substrates selection and characterization technologies for biogas productionSection 2 Green developments in biogas process design, efficiency, optimization and operations4. Strategies for managing microorganisms in biogas digesters with application of biomolecular tools5. Comparative analysis of biogas production strategies from different feedstocks6. Green approaches to solving foaming problems in digesters7. Application of emerging separation sciences and unit operations in biogas processes and biogas upgrading – Nanotechnology, Membrane technology, adsorption, etc.8. Equipment design and selection for biogas plant construction, process monitoring and control based on green principlesSection 3 Anaerobic digestion products utilization and integration – biogas, digestate, CO29. Reforming as a green technology for utilization of biogas10. Sustainability evaluation of current biogas upgrading techniques11. Green innovations for managing carbon dioxide generated in biogas digesters. – Consider Greenhouses, Algae growth, Biobased Adsorbents, Others12. Green concepts and innovations in biogas digestate use as a biofertiliser application13. Non conventional applications of biogas plant digestate.14. Biogas digester integration with other technologies and green aspects of such processes. Consider solar, wetlands, biohydrogen, bioethanol, biodiesel, biobutanolSection 4 The sustainability of biogas industry operations15. The biogas industry’s greener strategies in promoting fulfilment of various SDGs – SHE, LCA, Techno-feasibility16. The role of artificial intelligence in greening biogas operations17. Carbon emission reduction assessment via biogas production and resource recovery: The IPCC methodology18. The merits of applying green principles in handling potential biogas digestate hazardous chemicals and pathogenicity.19. Safety and environmental perspectives for greening the biogas plant operations.Section 5 Stakeholders in a greener anaerobic digestion industry20. Financing mechanisms available to green biogas investments: An overview21. A review of global treaties and agreements applicable to the greening of the anaerobic digestion industry22. Stakeholders engagement and governance issues in applying green principles in the biogas sector