Microbial Hydrolysis Process
Enhancing energy recovery and biosolids quality to unlock more value from wastewater solids
Wastewater is no longer waste — it’s a valuable source of recoverable water, nutrients and energy. As the water industry embraces the transition to a circular economy, sustainable wastewater technologies that unlock more value while improving process performance are key.
Jacobs’ patented Microbial Hydrolysis Process (MHP) enhances anaerobic digestion to maximize renewable energy generation from wastewater solids, improve biosolids quality and reduce biosolids volumes.
Anaerobic digestion is a proven process used to stabilize wastewater solids, reduce pathogens and odors and generate renewable energy in the form of biogas. However, even high-performing digestion systems don’t fully capture the significant energy potential in residual biosolids.
MHP is designed to recover more of this untapped energy while enhancing anaerobic digestion performance and biosolids quality. Operating at 167°F (75°C) with a short two-day retention time, the process uses bacteria suited to high temperatures — such as Caldicellulosiruptor bescii — to convert complex carbohydrates, including cellulose in toilet paper, into soluble compounds before digestion. This increases biogas production while reducing biosolids volume and improving biosolids quality.
With just a 10% increase in digestion volume, MHP can deliver a 25–50% improvement in digestion performance.
Key benefits
Microbial Hydrolysis Process can achieve more than 75% organic solids conversion, compared to 50–60% in high-performing conventional anaerobic digestion systems.
The process can increase biogas production by 25–50%, supporting renewable energy generation from wastewater treatment processes.
Residual biosolids volumes can be lowered by 20–30%, reducing handling and disposal costs.
The technology reduces pathogens and odors while enabling Class A biosolids production.
Digestion capacity is expanded without requiring pre-dewatering or major configuration changes.
The process easily retrofits into existing or new digestion systems using familiar equipment.
MHP produces more energy than it consumes using efficient heat recovery and hot water heating, with no steam required.
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Transforming Ejby Mølle into a net energy producer for Denmark
Jacobs is supporting VCS Denmark with a full-scale installation of MHP at its Ejby Mølle facility, increasing biogas production while reducing biosolids volumes.
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Wastewater Treatment
With deep technical expertise across treatment, biosolids, resource recovery and reuse, we support clients through the full asset lifecycle — from planning and design to optimization and operations — protecting water quality, recovering resources and strengthening resilient, day-to-day performance.
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