Project FUBAF (From Urban Bio-waste to Animal Feed) is a pilot-scale project that will enable the Danish industry to demonstrate its research, expertise and technology in the environmental and wastewater sectors. FUBAF is a spin off from the VARGA project.

The aim of the project is to produce protein from urban bio-waste in a quality that can substitute traditional protein for animal feed, such as soybeans and fishmeal. Thus, FUBAF contributes to the frame of circular economy.

WP1

Anaerobic digestion of biopulp from source separated municipal waste (KOD), as well as biological upgrading of biogas. The gas composition is compared with biogas produced from sludge and natural gas.

WP2

Development of a novel submersible microbial desalination cell (SMDC) for ammonia recovery from ammonia-rich wastewater including system optimization for pilot scale.

WP3

Identification of an optimal culture of methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB). Upgraded biogas from WP1 and nutrients from WP2 are converted to single cell protein (SCP) that can be used for animal feed.

WP4

Evaluation of the concept by means of Life Cycle Assessment and the eco-efficiency approach. Baseline scenarios for future frameworks will be identified and developed, as well as mass and energy flows for defined scenarios will be analyzed.

The future treatment plant

BIOFOS, with the support from MUDP and in collaboration with ARC, EnviDan, UniBio, Liqtech and DTU Environment, is starting a spin off project that will take the next step towards transforming a conventional wastewater treatment plant into a recycling plant (Water Resource Recovery Facility). This transformation will be demonstrated in full scale at Avedøre wastewater treatment plant in Copenhagen, Denmark. The future WRRF will clean water and utilize excess renewable energy together with the resources of waste products. The production of animal feed in the form of single cell protein from biogas and nutrients from waste water contributes to circular economy of a future treatment plant.

 The following new technologies are part of the overall concept:

  • Upgrading biogas by means of hydrogen
  • Increased biogas production from source separated organic waste, as well as use of residual products in ecological farming
  • Ammonia recovery from ammonia-rich waste water using microbial desalination cells
  • Single cell protein for animal feed via fermentation of upgraded biogas and nutrients using a U-Loop process.