ADTechOptima

ADTechOptima is a research-driven company based at Lancaster University, dedicated to advancing technology for high-performance anaerobic digestion processes in the bioenergy sector. The company’s core focus is on overcoming the key challenges faced by biogas plant operators, consultants, and technology suppliers, particularly in maximizing energy production, reducing operational downtime, and improving feedstock sanitization efficiency.

A major challenge in the anaerobic digestion industry is the limited energy production caused by operating digesters at low organic loading rates (OLR), typically between 1-3 kg volatile solids per cubic meter per day. While increasing the OLR can boost methane output, it often introduces stability risks, potentially leading to catastrophic system acidification and costly production losses. ADTechOptima addresses this with bespoke solutions that enable safe operation at much higher OLRs—up to 21 kg volatile solids/m³/day—while maintaining a short hydraulic retention time (HRT) of just 7.5 days and achieving over 75% volatile solids reduction. This translates to a significant increase in both methane production and revenue potential, with claims of up to 10 times more methane and revenue compared to conventional processes.

Another critical issue is the revival of acidified digesters. Restarting a failed digester and restoring it to full productivity can take over three months, resulting in substantial financial losses. ADTechOptima offers a tailored product capable of reviving such systems in less than three weeks, minimizing downtime and lost energy sales.

Feedstock sanitization is also a key concern, as traditional methods like pasteurization consume a significant portion of the generated biogas, reducing the net energy available for sale. ADTechOptima has developed an ultra-low energy sanitization technology that operates at the same temperature as mesophilic methanogenic digesters, achieving up to an 8 log10 reduction in marker pathogens while conserving energy for sale.

Through these innovations, ADTechOptima is pushing the boundaries of bioenergy production, offering solutions that deliver higher efficiency, reliability, and profitability for the anaerobic digestion industry.

Keywords: ADTechOptima, anaerobic digestion, bioenergy, biogas, methane production, Lancaster University, organic loading rate, volatile solids reduction, digester revival, feedstock sanitization, ultra-low energy, renewable energy, waste-to-energy, biotechnology, pathogen reduction, high-performance digestion, biogas plant optimization, energy efficiency, process stability, sustainable technology.