METHO-DETOX is a specialised additive for ammonia control in anaerobic digesters. It is particularly useful for biogas plants experiencing high ammonia levels (ammonia inhibition), which can happen if the feedstock is rich in proteins or nitrogen – for example, plants digesting a lot of chicken manure, poultry litter, or other high-protein wastes.
High ammonia (especially in the form of free ammonia NH₃) can raise the pH and inhibit microbial activity, leading to a condition known as alkalosis in the digester. METHO-DETOX addresses this by reducing ammonia toxicity and promoting healthy bacterial metabolism, thus restoring and enhancing plant performance. It is based on a mixture of natural zeolites and plant extracts, giving it a dual action: physically binding ammonia and biochemically supporting the microbes to tolerate stress. This makes METHO-DETOX an ideal remedy and preventative measure for digesters that struggle with ammonia-related issues.
Reduces Ammonia Toxicity: METHO-DETOX effectively sequesters free ammonia (NH₃) in the digester, converting it to less harmful forms and thus lowering the toxic impact of ammonia-N on the microbial community. This helps prevent the typical inhibition of methanogens that occurs at high ammonia concentrations.
Improves Biogas Production under High Ammonia: By controlling ammonia, METHO-DETOX allows biogas production to improve even in high alkalinity or high-protein-feed scenarios. Plants that would otherwise see reduced gas output due to ammonia inhibition can maintain or increase their methane yields.
Enhances Microbial Resilience: The natural plant extracts in METHO-DETOX increase bacterial resistance to osmotic stress and salts. High ammonia often comes hand-in-hand with high salt (for instance, if recirculating digestate or using manure). This additive helps the microbes cope with those conditions, fostering a more robust microbial population.
Ideal for Problematic Feedstocks: If your feedstock mix includes things like poultry manure, slaughterhouse waste, or other nitrogen-rich materials, METHO-DETOX enables you to use those to generate biogas without the severe downside of ammonia inhibition. It broadens the range of substrates you can digest cost-effectively.
Promotes Overall System Performance: With ammonia under control, the fermentation process runs more smoothly – resulting in better overall system stability, fewer upsets, and a more efficient conversion of organics to biogas. In summary, it detoxifies the process, which can be the difference between a struggling plant and a thriving one.
METHO-DETOX employs a two-pronged mode of action:
Ion Exchange via Zeolites: The product contains specific zeolitic minerals. Zeolites are microporous aluminosilicates that can exchange their cations with ammonium (NH₄⁺) ions in the digestate. When METHO-DETOX is added, the zeolite preferentially captures ammonium ions from the liquid phase, holding them within its structure in exchange for, say, a sodium or calcium ion it releases. This process effectively removes ammonium from the free solution, which in turn pulls the equilibrium of ammonia/ammonium towards ammonium, thus reducing free ammonia levels. Lower free ammonia (NH₃) means less toxicity, since NH₃ (not NH₄⁺) is the form that can diffuse into microbial cells and inhibit them.
Plant Extracts for Stress Reduction: The additive also includes natural plant extracts and micronutrients. These components have been formulated to boost the bacteria’s tolerance to stressful conditions, such as high osmotic pressure and high pH. They work by fortifying cell membranes, acting as antioxidants, and providing cofactors that help the microbes maintain function under stress. The net effect is that the microbial consortia (especially methanogens) can keep working effectively even when conditions are not ideal.
By combining these actions, METHO-DETOX not only physically reduces ammonia levels but also biologically enhances the fermentation process. For example, with ammonia toxicity mitigated, methanogens can continue consuming VFAs (volatile fatty acids) and producing methane rather than stalling. Also, by reducing ammonia, the digester’s pH may drop back into a more optimal range (ammonia tends to cause pH to rise, shifting the carbonate buffer). This rebalancing encourages all microbial steps (hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, methanogenesis) to proceed efficiently. Over time, regular use of METHO-DETOX helps maintain an environment where high ammonia feedstocks can be digested with stable performance, turning what was once a challenge into an opportunity for greater biogas output.
METHO-DETOX is usually added as a powder (or fine granular) directly into the digester or feed system. Since ammonia issues can be persistent, the application can be:
Curative Dosing: If a plant is suffering from high ammonia (e.g., measured NH₃-N levels are above inhibition thresholds, and performance is down), you might add METHO-DETOX in larger initial quantities to bring down ammonia to safe levels.
Preventative Regular Dosing: For plants that routinely feed high-nitrogen substrates, a continuous low-dose strategy can keep ammonia controlled before it ever reaches critical levels.
The exact dosage of METHO-DETOX depends on a digestate analysis. Typically, Realistic Agri would analyse your current ammonium concentration, total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), pH, and perhaps sodium/potassium levels (as those affect ammonium toxicity) and then recommend a dosing plan. As a general ballpark:
In a heavily ammonia-inhibited system, you might start with a dose of several kilograms per 100 m³ of digester volume, repeated daily, until ammonia levels drop or stabilise.
For maintenance, smaller daily doses (maybe 1–2 kg per 100 m³) might suffice.
Application method: You can add METHO-DETOX directly into the fermenter through any available solid feeding port or access hatch. If the product is applied in the biodegradable bag, you can toss the bag in whole, and it will dissolve. Alternatively, you might mix it with some water to create a slurry and then pump it in. Distributing it evenly is beneficial, but since it will circulate with the digestate, exact placement is not critical (the mixing in a digester is usually enough to spread it around).
It’s worth noting that while dosing, you should continue to monitor ammonia (TAN and free ammonia) and pH levels. The goal is to gradually see a decline in free ammonia concentration and an improvement in biogas production. Once at desired levels, the dosage should be adjusted to a maintenance level.
Remember that if ammonia is extremely high, sometimes dilution or reducing protein input is recommended in parallel – METHO-DETOX will help buffer the system, but also controlling the source of ammonia can be part of a holistic approach.
METHO-DETOX is available in 20 kg biodegradable paper bags. These are sturdy enough for transport but designed to break down in the moist environment of a digester.
Storage: Store METHO-DETOX bags in a dry place, as moisture can weaken the bag or cause the zeolite to start adsorbing water instead of being fresh for ammonia. Keep bags sealed until use. The product is not known to be hazardous, but it’s good practice to avoid creating dust.
Handling: When adding manually, use gloves (to keep your hands clean and avoid any mild irritation) and a dust mask, as fine zeolite dust could be irritating if inhaled in quantity. However, much of the content might be granular, not super dusty. Because the bags are biodegradable, you have the option of adding the whole bag – if doing so, just cut away any outer plastic or packaging, and throw the paper bag with contents into the digester. It will dissolve, and the paper typically breaks down over time.
If measuring out smaller doses from a bag, use a scoop and weigh out the product to ensure proper dosing. Avoid breathing directly over the bag when open. If spilled, zeolite can be swept up and it’s safe to dispose or add to the digester.
Compatibility: The mixture is safe with biological systems (that’s the point), so there are no special compatibility issues. It won’t foul pumps or pipes. If adding via a pump, make sure the slurry is well mixed as zeolite particles can settle – continuous mixing while pumping is advised to avoid clogs.
METHO-DETOX can be a game-changer for plants that are limited by ammonia:
Unlocking Higher Gas Yields: Many AD plants deliberately avoid high-protein materials or limit loading to prevent ammonia issues, which means they might not be fully utilising available waste streams or pushing their capacity. By using METHO-DETOX to control ammonia, you can digest richer substrates or load more feed, resulting in greater biogas production and revenue. The extra biogas generated from these otherwise problematic substrates can far outweigh the cost of the additive.
Preventing Failure and Downtime: Ammonia inhibition can lead to a collapse of the digester’s biology – a nightmare scenario requiring re-inoculation or long recovery times (which are expensive and lost revenue). METHO-DETOX helps prevent such crashes, safeguarding your investment in the feedstock and the continuous operation of the plant. Avoiding a single serious upset can save tens of thousands in emergency management, making the additive worth it.
Feeding Flexibility: Being able to handle higher-nitrogen waste (like poultry litter, food waste with protein, etc.) means you might access cheaper or gate-fee feedstocks that you couldn’t before. The financial benefit of getting paid to take waste, or using a cheaper feed, directly improves profit margins. METHO-DETOX essentially enables this flexibility, which improves the economic feedstock portfolio of your plant.
Operational Efficiency: With ammonia levels controlled, the microbial efficiency improves – more of the COD (chemical oxygen demand) or VS (volatile solids) in your feed is converted to methane rather than accumulating as dead biomass or intermediates. This improved conversion is like getting more bang for your buck out of the same feed. Over time, that means higher output for the same input cost, a clear ROI boost.
Longevity of Digesters: Chronic high ammonia can cause persistent high pH which might lead to scaling or other issues in the digester, and can stress certain equipment (like concrete integrity if extreme). By avoiding those conditions, you protect the long-term integrity of your digester, saving on costly repairs or reduced lifespan. That’s a long-term ROI consideration – think of it as maintaining the health of a major capital asset.
Combined with the intangible benefits of stability and risk reduction, the return on using METHO-DETOX is typically very high for those who need it – it turns a potentially limiting factor into a non-issue, allowing the plant to operate at full potential.