Co-digestion of the hydromechanically separated organic fraction of municipal solid waste with sewage sludge

J Environ Manage. 2015 Jan 1:147:87-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.09.013. Epub 2014 Sep 28.

Abstract

This study investigates the anaerobic digestion of the hydromechanically sorted organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (HS-OFMSW) co-digested with sewage sludge (SS). Eight laboratory-scale experiments were conducted under semi-continuous conditions at 15 and 20 days of solids retention time (SRT). The biogas yield from the waste reached 309 to 315 dm(3)/kgVS and 320 to 361 dm(3)/kgVS under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, respectively. The addition of SS to HS-OFMSW (1:1 by weight) improved the C/N balance of the mixture, and the production of biogas through anaerobic mesophilic digestion increased to 494 dm(3)/kgVS, which corresponded to 316 dm(3)CH4/kgVS. However, when SS and HS-OFMSW were treated under thermophilic conditions, methanogenesis was inhibited by volatile fatty acids and free ammonia, which concentrations reached 5744 gCH3COOH/m(3) and 1009 gNH3/m(3), respectively.

Keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Biogas; Municipal solid waste; Sewage sludge.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biofuels / analysis
  • Bioreactors
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile / analysis
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Sewage / chemistry*
  • Solid Waste*
  • Waste Management / methods*

Substances

  • Biofuels
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile
  • Sewage
  • Solid Waste