- Acetogenesis
- Production of acetate from soluble organic materials (i.e. products of hydrolysis)
- Acidogenesis
- Production of organic acids from soluble and insoluble organic material
- Aerobic Treatment
- The treatment of organic waste via cellular biomass production and respiration. This process requires constant input of relatively insoluble oxygen into aqueous solutions for wastewaters.
- Ammonia Toxicity
- Inhibition of anaerobic activity due to high concentrations of ammonia. Ammonia interferes with transport of soluble organics in cell walls.
- Anaerobic Digestion
- A microbial process carried out by a naturally occurring community of microorganisms that process organic matter into biogas, a liquid biofertilizer, and recalcitrant fiber.
- Anthropozoonotic
- Diseases that originate from humans to animals. Unfortunately vice versa is almost always the case and can lead to difficult to control disease outbreaks.
- Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
- The biodegradability of organic matter in a substance. Determining the amount of oxygen needed to degrade a substance over time usually tests BOD.
- Biodigester Effluent
- The liquid by-product from an anaerobic digester.
- Biodigester Process
- A process that specially facilitates anaerobic digestion. The process may have various advantages such as sludge retention or polishing of effluent.
- Biodigester
- A biodigester is a sealed container that facilitates anaerobic digestion.
- Biofertilizer
- A biologically derived nutrient source.
- Biogas
- A biofuel derived from organic matter mostly containing methane and carbon dioxide but also containing trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide, water vapour, and ammonia.
- Black Water
- Wastewater containing human excrement. Usually refers to the portion of wastewater coming from a toilet.
- C to N Ratio
- Carbon to nitrogen ratio. The ration of carbon to nitrogen can determine toxicity factors in an anaerobic system and facilitation of degradation in an aerobic system. C:N is also a measure of odor potential.
- Clarifier
- Settles or floats the insoluble fraction of the waste stream.
- Co-digestion
- Anaerobic digestion of a source of organic material along with an additional organic material. Co-digestion can be used to solve toxicity factors, nutrient deficiencies, and increase the robustness of the fermentation.
- Composting
- An aerobic treatment process of organic waste that uses cellular biomass production to convert organics and nutrients into a stabilized product (compost). Most commonly used in homes or centers to treat food waste and turn into an organic fertilizer.
- Dead Zone
- An area in a water body where nutrients have triggered an algal bloom that causes the complete consumption of Oxygen on a nightly basis rendering the area uninhabitable for higher organisms.
- Fixed Film Reactor
- An anaerobic digestion process where organic material is passed over a fixed community of organism on inert media.
- Forage Crop
- A crop raised and harvested to feed animals.
- Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT)
- The amount of time that a substance is retained in a biodigester for treatment. HRT prevents microbial washout and helps mediate the amount of biogas produced in a system.
- Hydrolysis
- The microbial process of turning insoluble organic material such as fats, starches and proteins into soluble by-products.
- Leachfield
- An area where treated water is slowly dispersed.
- Methanogenesis
- Process of producing methane from a variety of sources but mainly acetate and carbon dioxide+ hydrogen.
- Passive Solar Heating
- Using the instant solar radiation rather than other forms of energy to heat.
- Pasteurisation
- Sterilization of a product by bringing the temperature to 71.7 degrees C for 15 to 30 seconds.
- Pathogen
- A disease causing vector such as a bacteria or virus.
- Phase Biodigester
- A biodigester that separates one or more of the microbial processes into a separate phase.
- Red Tide
- A bloom of organisms that can sometimes produce toxins that leads to death of marine life and minor to severe skin irritation in humans.
- Sand Filter
- Uses biological and physical removal processes to treat wastewaters.
- Staged Biodigester
- a series of biodigesters that while not separating out phases is capable of achieving more control of the process and a more polished effluent.
- Thermophile
- A heat loving organism that exist at temperatures mostly ranging from 45 to 55 or even 60 degrees Celsius. These are found in many extreme environments such as hot springs and geothermal vents.
- Thermophilic Biodigester
- A biodigester operating at temperatures of around 45 to 55 degrees Celsius.
- Treatment Wetland
- A waste treatment technology that uses natural functions in a wetland to remove BOD, nutrients, heavy metals, and pathogens
- Turbidity
- Cloudiness caused by suspended particles.
- Two-Phase Biodigester
- A biodigester that processes wastes in two phases, usually an acid producing phase (controlled by pH) and a methane producing phase.
- Ultrafiltration
- Filtration that only allows solubles to pass through the membrane (i.e. about 106 daltons).
- Ultraviolet Light (UV)
- UV light can be used to destroy pathogens although there is sensitivity to turbidity and danger involving larger organisms.
- Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB)
- Wastewaters are passed up through a blanket of granulated microorganisms. A tortuous path leaving the biodigester causes granules to fall out of suspension.
