ABC Continuing Education: Advanced Laboratory Testing for Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Operations [Sept 2026]
This course is designed for biogas plant operators, managers, developers, consultants, engineers, technical service providers, and project stakeholders who have a basic understanding of anaerobic digestion and want to use laboratory testing more effectively to evaluate performance and troubleshoot problems.This advanced virtual course will provide biogas and anaerobic digestion professionals with a practical understanding of laboratory testing methods for evaluating digester performance, feedstock quality, process stability, inhibition risk, and operational troubleshooting. The course will build on foundational operator training by moving beyond basic sampling and routine monitoring into more detailed interpretation of laboratory results and their application to real-world operating decisions. Participants will learn how advanced testing can support proactive process control, identify early warning signs of instability, improve communication with laboratories and technical advisors, and strengthen overall plant performance. The course is intended for operators, managers, consultants, developers, and technical staff who already understand basic anaerobic digestion concepts and want to use laboratory data more effectively to guide operational and business decisions.
By the end of this course, participants should be able to describe how advanced laboratory testing supports anaerobic digestion process control, troubleshooting, and long-term system optimization. Participants will learn how to connect test results to practical operating decisions, including feedstock acceptance, digester loading, process stability, nutrient balance, and inhibition management.
- Identify the key laboratory tests commonly used to evaluate anaerobic digestion performance, feedstock characteristics, and digestate quality.
- Explain when advanced testing is appropriate beyond routine monitoring parameters such as pH, alkalinity, volatile fatty acids, total solids, volatile solids, ammonia, and gas production.
- Interpret laboratory results in the context of digester health, process stability, organic loading, inhibition risk, and operational performance.
- Recognize early warning signs of process imbalance and understand how laboratory data can support timely corrective action.
- Evaluate how feedstock testing can inform acceptance decisions, blending strategies, loading rates, contamination concerns, and expected biogas production potential.
- Understand the value and limitations of specialized tests such as biochemical methane potential testing, trace nutrient analysis, sulfur-related testing, ammonia and nitrogen speciation, and inhibition screening.
- Improve communication with third-party laboratories, engineers, consultants, and internal operations teams by asking better questions and requesting more useful data.
- Apply laboratory data to support operational troubleshooting, performance optimization, compliance discussions, and management-level decision-making.