Systems and methods for integrating thermochemical processing of biomass and anaerobic digestion are provided. Light oxygenated organic compounds are produced as byproducts of thermochemical biomass processing e.g. by torrefaction and/or pyrolysis, and are converted to methane by anaerobic digestion. Thermochemical processing units may or may not be co-located with the anaerobic digestion units, with co-location providing benefits for e.g. rural agricultural enterprises.

An assemblable appliance and method of recycling organic waste into biogas and liquid fertilizer, implementing essentially anaerobic digestion processes, is described. The assemblable appliance includes: a pliant structured exoskeletal envelope, pliable collapsible anaerobic digester and gas tank. A compact kit-of-parts for assembling the aforementioned appliance and respective method using the aforementioned appliance for recycling organic waste into biogas and liquid fertilizer are described.

A nutrient combination for enhancing biogenic methane production from a carbonaceous material is described. The nutrient combination comprises a source of phosphorus (P) and gaseous nitrogen (N.sub.2). The nutrient combination is preferably substantially fee of gaseous oxygen and/or gaseous NO.sub.x and/or SO.sub.x. In various embodiments the nutrient combination may comprise a two-phase mixture of a solution of the soluble source of phosphorus (P) and gaseous nitrogen (N.sub.2). A process for enhancing biogenic methane production from a carbonaceous material is also described. The process involves dispersing the nutrient combination of the invention throughout the carbonaceous material for a period of time to biogenically produce methane and subsequently collecting methane from the carbonaceous material.

Genetically modified microorganisms that have the ability to convert carbon substrates into chemical products such as 2,3-BDO are disclosed. For example, genetically modified methanotrophs that are capable of generating 2,3-BDO at high titers from a methane source are disclosed. Methods of making these genetically modified microorganisms and methods of using them are also disclosed.

The present invention discloses a method of utilizing refuses in urban and rural areas. The method includes a refuses collection step, a refuse distributing step, a primary magnetic separation step, a primary crushing step, a primary elutriation and floatation step, a uniform cutting step, an acidification and anaerobic treatment step, a selection and separation step, a buffering and adjusting step, an additional anaerobic treatment step and a sludge sedimentation and concentration step. The present invention can make the anaerobic treatment method continuatively dispose the refuses, thereby thoroughly solving the problem that non-anaerobic refuses such as waste plastics, water fiber etc. can not be recycled and completely recycling resources in the refuses.

Described herein are processes for increasing biogas yield and reducing volatile solids in biosolids sludge. The biosolids sludge is passed through a controlled flow, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus and further subjected to anaerobic digestion. The biosolids sludge can be treated with hydrodynamic cavitation prior to or after the sludge is exposed to a thermal hydrolysis step to hydrolyze the sludge.

Methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content are described. The methods may include accessing a consortium of microorganisms in a geologic formation that includes a carbonaceous material. They may also include providing hydrogen and one or more phosphorous compounds to the microorganisms. The combination of the hydrogen and phosphorous compounds stimulates the consortium to metabolize the carbonaceous material into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content. Also, methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content by providing a carboxylate compound, such as acetate, to a consortium of microorganisms is described. The carboxylate compound stimulates the consortium to metabolize carbonaceous material in the formation into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content.

The invention relates to the use of a strain of basidiomycete fungus belonging to the Polyporus brumalis species, for the fungal pretreatment of a lignocellulosic biomass in a solid medium.

The present invention relates to a method for solubilisation or hydrolysis of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) with an enzyme blend and an enzyme composition for solubilization of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), the enzyme composition comprising a cellulolytic background composition and a protease, lipase and/or beta-glucanase.

The present invention relates to a method for solubilisation or hydrolysis of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) with an enzyme blend and an enzyme composition for solubilization of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), the enzyme composition comprising a cellulolytic background composition and a protease, lipase and/or beta-glucanase.