Hyderabad: Researchers at the Hyderabad campus of BITS Pilani have developed a patented solution that could transform waste-to-energy systems by cutting down processing time and boosting biogas yield, reported Deccan Herald.
The team, led by Professor Sankar Ganesh Palani and researcher Atun Roy Choudhury from the BITS Environmental Science and Technology (BEST) Lab, has designed the Sandwich Aerobic-Anaerobic-Aerobic (SAAnA) Reactor. The system addresses key challenges in organic waste management, especially in developing countries, by producing more energy and high-quality biofertilizer in less time.
“Conventional waste treatment methods are slow and often produce low-value by-products. The SAAnA reactor changes that by being faster and more efficient,” said Atun Roy Choudhury. He explained that unlike traditional single-stage anaerobic digestion systems, which take up to 60 days, the SAAnA reactor completes the process in just 23 days.
The three-stage process includes five days of aerobic pre-treatment, 13 days of anaerobic digestion, and five days of aerobic post-treatment. The system can handle diverse organic wastes—such as fecal sludge, municipal solid waste, landfill leachate, and slaughterhouse waste—either separately or in combination. It generates up to 0.8 cubic metres of biogas per kilogram of volatile solids, reducing processing time by nearly 60% compared to conventional methods.
“With waste disposal becoming a growing environmental challenge, this reactor offers a sustainable and economically viable solution,” said Professor Palani. “It reduces reliance on landfills and promotes a circular economy by turning waste into biogas and biofertilizers.”
The researchers said the technology could be applied in municipal treatment plants and industrial facilities alike, with the potential to make cities cleaner and more sustainable. Their invention has been granted Indian patent No. 202411062676 and recognized under the government’s Kapila Scheme for its potential impact.
