We are glad to invite you to attend the meeting which will be held at Menlo Park Hotel, Galway, Ireland on 22 May 2024. This event was funded by Gas Networks Ireland and Scientific Foundation Ireland (Prof. Xinmin Zhan), and National University of Ireland (Dr Jizhong Meng).
About the event
Digestate management plays a crucial role in sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in the context of anaerobic digestion (AD) processes. Digestate, the nutrient-rich residue remaining after AD, presents both challenges and opportunities in its management. Effectively handling digestate is essential for maximizing the benefits of AD while minimizing environmental impacts. Strategies for digestate management include its application as a soil amendment, utilization in biogas production, and potential as a biofertilizer. Proper management techniques ensure the efficient recycling of nutrients, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to the circular economy. This Digestate Management International Symposium provides a platform for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss innovative approaches and best practices in digestate management, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange in this critical field.
Agenda
| 8:45 am – 9:30 am | Reception |
| Keynote Presentation Chaired by Prof Xinmin Zhan | |
| 9:30 am – 9:45 am | Ian Kilgallon (Gas Networks Ireland) Gas Networks Ireland strategy on Biomethane |
| 9:45 am – 10:10 am | Prof Xiaochang Wang (Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology) Dynamic membrane bioreactor for enhancing anaerobic digestion |
| 10:10 am – 10:35 am | Prof Riya Shohei (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology) Potential of digestate biochar for enhancing methane production and mitigation |
| 10:35 am – 11:00 am | Dr Ashley Cathcart (Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute) Mechanical separation of digestate for nutrient management and valorisation of the solid fraction |
| 11:00 am – 11:20 am | Coffee break |
| Session: Sustainability Chaired by Dr Jizhong Meng | |
| 11:20 am – 11:40 am | Robert Ludgate (Munster Technological University) Maximising recycling derived fertiliser use and closing the nutrient cycle |
| 11:40 am – 12:00 pm | Sofia Tisocco (University of Galway & Teagasc) Integration of anaerobic co-digestion into a sustainable livestock farming system |
| 12:00 pm – 12:20 pm | Dr Jagdeep Kumar Nayak (University of Limerick) Maximizing residual biomethane yield from lignocellulosic rich digestate using hydrodynamic cavitation pre-treatment |
| 12:20 pm – 12:40 pm | Ali Sultan Khan (University of Galway & Teagasc) Ammonia emissions of two different grassland swards at two different sward heights & receiving two application levels of digestate |
| 12:40 pm – 1:00 pm | Dr Yan Jiang (Atlantic Technological University) Regulations on land application of digestate |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch |
| Session: Nutrient and product recovery from digestate Chaired by Sofia Tisocco | |
| 2:00 pm –2:20 pm | Dr Jizhong Meng (University of Galway) Nutrient recovery from digestate using novel electrodialysis |
| 2:20 pm –2:40 pm | Dr Stephen Nolan (AD Biorefine) Practical aspects of digestate management and valorisation |
| 2:40 pm – 3:00 pm | Dr Xue Ning (MaREI Centre) Transforming distillery by-product waste into engineered carbon-based materials for sustainable energy and water solutions |
| 3:00 pm – 3:20 pm | Dr Isaac Owusu-Agyeman (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) Volatile fatty acid recovery through anaerobic digestion of food industrial residues |
| 3:20 pm – 4:00 pm | Coffee break |
| 4:00 pm – 4:40 pm | Round table discussion Future digestate management approaches, collaboration potential |
| 4:40 pm – 4:45pm | Closing remarks – Prof Xinmin Zhan |
Organizing Committee
