Another module for Brewnomic: upcycling residual materials from the brewing process

Maximum yield: protein derivatives and energy

And the process developed by Reule/Gottschalk provides yet another ingenious side effect, right in tune with current trends. You see, the inhibitors mentioned above are produced when protein is broken down during biogas fermentation. That can no longer happen in the new biomass conversion process since the proteins (= the inhibitor source) are already separated as hydrolysate upstream of the biogas stage. And it is precisely this hydrolysate that is today more in demand than ever before because it is not only needed to make vegan foods and beverages but also a much sought-after ingredient for producers of food supplements.

It’s a classical win-win situation for breweries that use the biomass conversion process to recover their residual materials:

1. They operate a small, commercially viable biogas plant, which enables them to generate heat and power for their production in-house. In other words, it renders them energy-self-sufficient. In addition, the biogas plant can also be used to turn wastewater into process water.
2. Moreover, they have an additional source of income through protein sales, which in its turn ensures fast amortisation of the biogas plant.

Phoenix BMC development project

Since we at Steinecker saw this concept’s tremendous potential, we entered into a cooperative alliance with Prof. Reule and Dr. Gottschalk. Phoenix BMC is now being examined and optimised in a pilot installation as part of a development project. The approach in connection with Brewnomic essentially comprises three process steps:

• First, protein derivatives are extracted from the residual materials. After cell disintegration and hydrolysis, protein hydrolysate is obtained by means of membrane filtration.
• In the second step, the biomass left is subjected to biological acid fermentation. An ion exchanger separates ammonium salts, which can be used as mineral fertiliser in agriculture.
• This is followed by biogas fermentation. Here, the brewery’s wastewater is added and treated so that it can be used as process water.