On top of driving high standards for environmental protection, granular sludge systems can function as resource factories, following on the interest for anaerobic systems for biogas production. Besides methanization, innovative anaerobic granular sludge systems are applied for the formation and chain elongation of carboxylates in intensified mixed-culture fermentation systems, granules providing downstream processing advantage for biomass separation from the bulk liquid phase enriched in fermentation products. Algal granular biomass rich in lipids is of interest for biofuel production. Granular sludge biosolids wasted from the processes become a resource to exploit for the recovery of high-value exopolymers that find applications in concrete, coating, and paper manufacturing industries.
A community of engineers, biotechnologists, microbiologists, chemists, physicists, mathematical modellers, and innovation technologists developed around granular sludge. The science and engineering of granular sludge became integrative, and interaction need strengthening. With the conference we aim to bring together pioneers, international leaders, and the new generation of granular sludge experts from academic institutions and engineering practice to critically discuss the state-of-the-art of granular sludge and to anticipate future developments. We specifically aim to convey colleagues from all continents to join us in Delft, for enthusiastic debates and networking.