Publisher's Synopsis
The necessity for sustainable development has stimulated interest in technologies that will lessen the impact of society on the planet. With anaerobic processes, as occurring in nature, organic material and pollutants are converted into (bio)gas, organic fertiliser and minerals, end-products that can be recycled. Interest in anaerobic processes is further enhanced by the worldwide concern over the ever-increasing consumption of fossil energy and the consequent drive for alternative sources of energy, such as biomass. As a result, the development of anaerobic processes is the result of a push by the technology and a pull by society. Politicians ask what role anaerobic processes can play in their plans for the future. The papers selected from this congress should make a major contribution to such a dialogue by presenting the latest work from research and development programmes which are linked up with political and strategic targets. The 9th Anaerobic Digestion Congress presented a comprehensive picture of the various activities in this field all over the world in universities, institutes and industry. From the hundreds of oral and poster presentations 58 papers covering basic research and applied processes have been selected for these proceedings. Topics addressed include: microbiology; modelling and kinetics (featuring the newly launched IWA Anaerobic Digestion Model No 1); reactor technology; wastewater treatment; solid waste; integrated concepts; and post-treatment. These proceedings constitute an invaluable and genuinely authoritative survey of anaerobic digestions?s present status and future prospects.
