University of South Africa
Overview of innovation

BioFusion™ is an innovative single-compartment anaerobic digester engineered to efficiently process organic solid and liquid waste from households, agriculture, and food industries. Unlike traditional multi-stage digesters, BioFusion™ integrates all four biological stages of anaerobic digestion—hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis— into a single, compact reaction chamber, greatly simplifying construction, operation, and maintenance. The digester features a durable dual-layer structure consisting of an inner PVC bag and an outer polyester-coated vinyl tarp that provides strength, UV protection, and chemical resistance. Designed to operate across both mesophilic and thermophilic temperature ranges, BioFusion™ ensures optimised methane yield and low maintenance operation. Locally manufacturable and cost-effective, this innovation offers a sustainable, decentralised waste management solution suited to African conditions, reducing reliance on imported systems while enabling clean energy generation.

Type of Intellectual Property protection
Patent
Innovation Opportunity Type
Investment
Partnership
Industry
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
Human health and social work activities
Human health activities
Technology Readiness Level
TRL 4 – Experimental prototype developed
Website link
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Research-&-Innovation/Innovation,-Technology-Transfer-and-Commercialisation