updated 30 Dec 1998
David Riggle. 1998. Anaerobic digestion for MSW and Industrial Wastewater  
In: Integrated Bio-Systems in Zero Emissions Applications.
Proceedings of the Internet Conference on Integrated Biosystems.
Eds: Eng-Leong Foo & Tarcisio Della Senta. 1998 http://www.ias.unu.edu/proceedings/icibs/riggle
 
About the Author  Paper
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Discussion Messages 
  About the Author
David Riggle  
International Editor of BioCycle,   
Haugh Farm Cottage, Harviestoun, Dollar,   
Clackmannanshire, Scotland FK14 7PY.   
E-mail: kellrig@zetnet.co.uk.   

Home office:   
BioCycle, 419 State Avenue   
Emmaus, PA USA 18049   
http://www.jgpress.com/
 
David Riggle is based in Scotland as the International Editor for BioCycle, Journal of Composting and Recycling and works with contributors from all parts of the world to report on developments in  
organic waste management and related topics. For the past 10 years, he was employed at JG Press in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, serving as Managing Editor of BioCycle , In Business, and the peer-reviewed journal, Compost Science & Utilization, among other duties.   

Previously, he created and edited a desktop newsletter on community economic regeneration, was Director of Research and Reader Service for Organic Gardening, magazine and designed and edited The Columcille Celtic Calendar, an educational guide to Celtic spiritual traditions. Subject areas of particular interest include vermicomposting, biodegradable plastics, anaerobic digestion, sustainable community development, environmental regeneration, manufacturing with recycled feedstocks, practical applications of sustainable technologies, networking and information access.
Abstract
A brief introduction to anaerobic digestion (AD) technology and its history is presented, followed by a summary of the inroads it is making worldwide. Three specific AD facilities are profiled: 1) A combined anaerobic-aerobic treatment system for both "rest waste" and municipal biosolids in Bassum, Germany being developed by Organic Waste Systems from Ghent, Belgium; 2) A plant owned and operated by Unisyn Biowaste Technology, in Waimanalo, Hawaii that is anaerobically converting around 40 tons per day of wet organic residuals such as slurried fish heads, rejected hamburgers, and produce trimmings into biogas, soil amendment, and irrigation water; 3) And the anaerobic wastewater digesters at Anheuser-Busch's St. Louis, Missouri brewery utilizing Upflow Fluidized Bed technology from Biothane Corporation in Camden, New Jersey.   

Research and Development is discussed, focusing on a venture called Pinnacle Biotechnologies International, Inc., spun off from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to commercialize a high solids anaerobic digestion technology developed at NREL over the past 10 years. The need for a comparison of soil amendments from anerobic digestate with similar products produced through aerobic composting is raised, noting that a protocol for a series of comparative product performance trials between aerobic composts and anaerobic digestates is being finalized.