Fatbergs to fuel thanks to new process

In the United Kingdom, University of British Columbia scientists discovered a way to turn the UK’s fatbergs, congealed fat and waste, into methane fuel that when burned releases water and low amounts of carbon dioxide compared to fossil fuels. The new process helps break down fats, oils and grease into liquids that bacteria can more easily digest it and make more methane. Scientists used microwaves and hydrogen peroxide to break down the fatberg chunks releasing more fatty acids. Demonstration tests are going on now at municipal sewage treatment plants and dairy farms to test out the new process. “A full-scale system is expected to be in place in a year or two for these applications,” Srinivasan told Inverse.

“Anaerobic digestion systems commonly exist in municipal sewage treatment plants,” study co-author and research associate Asha Srinivasan, Ph.D. told Inverse. “So, it would be advantageous to make use of the existing infrastructure to produce methane.”