Our fields of activity in the area of biomass:

• Technology for substrate pretreatment
• Survey of biomass potentials
• Presentation of energy and mass flow analyses for biomass
• Food waste: balancing food losses along the entire value chain
• Hygiene concepts for fermentation and composting plants
• Degradation tests in technical composting and under home composting conditions
  A quickstart guide on successful composting(PDF 942,0 KB)

Our fields of work in the area of bioenergy:

• Increasing methane production through upstream microbiological hydrolysis
• Increasing the efficiency of anaerobic microbiology in biogas plants
• Power-to-gas (biological methanation of carbon dioxide and hydrogen)
• Degradation of HTC process water in anaerobic systems

Our fields of work in the area of anaerobic fungi:  

• Basic research on the symbiosis of anaerobic fungi and methanogens
• Continuous cultivation of anaerobic fungi
• Increasing methane production through the use of anaerobic fungi

Our fields of work in the area of nutrient recovery:

• Production of fertilizers from organic residues, e.g. farmyard manure
• Phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge

Our fields of work in the area of biodegradable materials:

• Standardized aerobic and anaerobic degradability tests
• Hazard prevention of foreign matter and pollutants entering the environment
• Assessment of environmental compatibility and investigation of exposure pathways
• Development of decision-making aids for the disposal of biodegradable materials

Our fields of activity in the area of wastewater and sludge treatment:

• Biological treatment of industrial wastewater with organic components
• Microscopic and microbiological characterization of activated sludge
• Closure of industrial water cycles
• Treatment and utilization of sewage sludge

Our fields of work in the area of degradation tests:

• Aerobic degradation tests of substances or biodegradable materials (bioplastics) in wastewater, digestate, compost or soil using respirometric tests according to EN ISO standards or OECD 301.
• Anaerobic degradation tests to determine and interpret the biogas and biomethane potential (BMP) as well as the residual methane potential (RMP) of substrates and substrate mixtures according to international standards (VDI 4630) using the AMPTS system (Bioprocess Control).

Our fields of work in the area of exhaust air and waste gas:

• Biological degradation of substances in gas and exhaust air streams (e.g. desulphurization, ammonia removal)
• Odour minimization through microbiological degradation processes
• Emission reduction in biogas & composting plants

Task37 is one of 10 IEA groups promoting international cooperation between authorities, research, industry & users in the field of bioenergy. The aim is the regular exchange of information on current developments along the entire value chain of biogas production and use. Topics include the provision and logistics of substrates (energy crops, residues, waste and wastewater), microbiological conversion (incl. pre- and post-treatment), the processing and use of energy products (biogas, biomethane), the processing and use of material products (digestate, organic fertilizer). 

Courses

• ZHAW Biotechnology program (Environmental Biotechnology 1 and 2; Minor Environmental Chemistry and Biotechnology)
• ZHAW Master
• ZHAW Environmental Engineering program Module: Biomass as a Resource
• BioMat Summer School
• OST Module: Biomass and Biogas
• ETH Module: Experimental and Computer Laboratory I, Module: Waste Management and Circular Economy

Here you will find a selection of different Bachelor and Master topics:
- Biodegradation of bio-based materials in composting and fermentation processes
- Biological treatment of process water from hydrothermal carbonization HTC
- Use of power-to-gas systems using the example of biological methanation
- Determination of the residual methane potential of biogas plants
- Mini biogas plant for tiny houses or catering businesses
- Use of anaerobic fungi for substrate treatment
If you are interested, please contact Hans-Joachim Nägele or Wolfgang Merkle.

Our employees support the Swiss composting and fermentation industry by imparting theoretical and practical specialist knowledge to operators and their staff in basic and refresher courses.
- Basic and refresher course for the composting and fermentation industry