Prof. Jules van Lier, Lettinga Associates Foundation, Wageningen/NL
Plenary lecture, Hall 4.C, Room Alliance
16 Mai 2006, 1.30 p.m.

Ever rising energy prices and the overall concern on global warming puts again the attention on the traditional advantages of high-rate anaerobic wastewater treatment. Decades of developments and implementations have put the technology at a competitive level for a growing range of industrial applications.

Jules van Lier, Professor at Wageningen University and Director of the Lettinga Foundation will present the state-of-the-art and perspectives of this technology in his plenary lecture at the ACHEMA Congress, May 16, 13.30 p.m.

Production of energy in the form of methane instead of consuming energy for destruction of organic matter was an important driving force. Anaerobic treatment at elevated temperature combined with water recycling may further increase the economic benefit by safing energy and water costs. Reduction of excess sludge production and space requirement, both up to 90%, are other big points in the economic balance.

Organic loading rates reach high values of 20-35kg COD per cubic meter rector volume and day, making the technology suitable for treatment of process effluents without further dilution and with high treatment efficiencies. Using granular anaerobid sludge as seed material enables rapid start-up in less than one week.