Hydrolysis and acidification steps as a component of large-scale biogas plants becoming widespread. The share of german agricultural biogas plants, which are equipped with a hydrolysis and acidification step, should currently be between 10 and 20%. Practice studies have shown that an erroneous interpretation of the hydrolysis and acidification steps is very widespread. Loss of energy (hydrogen and methane emissions), high operating costs and unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions (methane) are frequent consequences.

The project AcEta is urgently needed basis for funded design and efficient operation of hydrolysis – and acidification steps by field studies of large-scale hydrolysis and acidification steps, molecular biological population analysis, kinetic studies in the laboratory, the compilation of thumb figures for the hydrolysis / acidification and the development of design recommendations.