Hyderabad is seeing a rise in organic waste, and a new technology from BITS Pilani’s Hyderabad Campus might change how waste is handled. Researchers have created the Sandwich Aerobic-Anaerobic-Aerobic (SAAnA) Reactor to tackle waste management challenges effectively.
Dr. Atun Roy Choudhury and Prof. Sankar Ganesh Palani from the BITS Environmental Science and Technology (BEST) lab designed this reactor. Traditional methods take up to 60 days to treat waste and often yield low-quality by-products. In contrast, the SAAnA reactor finishes processing in just 23 days and enhances both biogas production and the quality of biofertilizer.
The SAAnA reactor works in three stages. It starts with a five-day aerobic pre-treatment to speed up breakdown processes. Next, a 13-day anaerobic phase generates biogas, which is partially recycled to improve methane production. Finally, a five-day aerobic post-treatment turns the waste into high-quality biofertilizer.
Prof. Sankar Ganesh Palani mentioned that this reactor can handle various types of organic waste, such as municipal waste, slaughterhouse waste, landfill leachate, and faecal sludge. It can treat these separately or together. The reactor produces up to 0.8 cubic meters of biogas per kilogram of volatile solids, surpassing traditional systems.
The biofertilizer produced meets national standards, requiring no further processing. The SAAnA reactor is energy-efficient, using gravity-driven flow to cut costs. Its flexible design suits both urban and rural areas, providing an alternative to dumping waste in landfills and supporting a circular economy.
This innovation has gained national attention. The researchers have filed Indian Patent No. 202411062676 under the Government of India’s Kapila Scheme. Their research is published in top international journals and featured in the book “Material and Energy Recovery from Solid Waste for a Circular Economy,” released by CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, USA.
As cities struggle with increasing waste and environmental issues, the SAAnA reactor offers a sustainable solution. Its implementation in waste treatment facilities could significantly advance India towards cleaner cities and a greener future.
