This innovative system improves the treatment of organic waste products by, for the first time ever, employing iron oxide nanoparticles.

The Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Instituto Catalán de Nanociencia y Nanotecnologia, orICN2) and Barcelona university (Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona or UAB) have together developed a technology that increases biogas production by 200%.

The system, called BiogásPlus, is based on the addition of iron oxide nanoparticles in order to feed the bacteria that degrade organic matter. This sustainably increases biogas production and, at the same time, transforms the iron nanoparticles into innocuous salts. Further, it increases the level of degradation for the organic matter compared to existing technologies.

This is the first time that nanoparticles have been used to this end. Producing biogas is generally inefficient compared to other sources of energy, given that only 30%-40% of organic matter is converted into gas.

The initial tests of BiogásPlus have shown that it increases biogas production by up to 200%, which makes the process for treating organic waste more profitable.

For the time being, BiogásPlus has been used successfully with cellulose and sludge from wastewater treatment plants, but it could also be used in anaerobic digestion for agricultural, industrial and municipal waste.