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Transforming waste into energy: Prof. Abendroth explains exciting processes!
Find out more about Prof. Dr. Christian Abendroth from BTU Cottbus, whose research contributes to energy production from organic waste.
Transforming waste into energy: Prof. Abendroth explains exciting processes!
Questions about energy production from waste are increasingly becoming the focus of public discussion. The conversion of biowaste into energy in particular represents a significant challenge. Prof. Dr. Christian Abendroth, head of the circular economy department at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, explains in a new interview how this process works and what role microorganisms play in it. His strong background in biochemistry and molecular biology, combined with his extensive academic and practical experience, provides deep insight into the subject matter.
The circular economy, which goes far beyond traditional recycling, not only seeks to reduce waste, but also to convert it into useful energy. Prof. Dr. Abendroth emphasizes that biogas plants play a central role in the discussion about sustainable energy production. The Department of Circular Economy at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is working intensively on the possibilities of processing organic waste efficiently in order to realize both ecological and economic advantages.
The process of biogas production
The conversion of biowaste into biogas involves a complex microbial process that takes place under anaerobic conditions. This happens not only in biogas plants, but also naturally in the rumen of ruminants or in rice fields. As the Fraunhofer IGB describes, fermentation goes through several stages in which different bacteria are active. The success of these processes is reflected in the production of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
Modern biogas plants use advanced technologies to efficiently increase degradation levels. A two-stage high-performance fermentation, as developed at Fraunhofer IGB, achieves high degrees of degradation and biogas yields with short residence times. Examples of degradation levels during the fermentation of organic substances in purely anaerobic operation are summarized in the following table:
| material | Degree of degradation |
|---|---|
| Organic waste | >92% |
| residual waste | approx. 80% |
| sewage sludge | approx. 70% |
Research and innovation
Prof. Dr. Before becoming a professor, Abendroth gained extensive practical experience, including as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Waste and Circular Management at the Technical University of Dresden, as well as through international research stays in Denmark and Spain. This natural networking with the research community provides decisive impetus for the development of more efficient recovery processes. The combination of modern bioreactors with membrane-supported separation technology is particularly pioneering.
In summary, converting biowaste into energy through sophisticated stress and digestion processes is not only extremely promising but also offers a multi-faceted solution to waste management challenges. Information and further details about biogas production are also available on the website Federal Environment Agency to find. Developments in this area show that waste can be a valuable resource if treated correctly.