Short-term and long-term effects of increasing temperatures on the stability and the production of volatile sulfur compounds in full-scale thermophilic anaerobic digesters

This study compares the effect of a rapid increase of the digester temperature (from 54 degrees C to 58 degrees C in 2 weeks) with a slow increase (from 53.9 degrees C to 57.2 degrees C at a rate of 0.55 degrees C per month) on full-scale thermophilic anaerobic digestion at Hyperion Treatment Plant. The short-term test demonstrated that rapidly increasing the digester temperature caused elevated production of volatile sulfur compounds, most notably methyl mercaptan, but volatile solids destruction and methane production were not significantly affected. The increase of the volatile fatty acid to alkalinity ratio from 0.1 to over 0.3 indicated a transient change in digester biochemistry, which was reversed by lowering the temperature. In the long term-test, a slow increase of digester temperature, the production of hydrogen sulfide increased above temperatures of 56.1 degrees C, but was controlled by increased injection of ferrous chloride. Methyl mercaptan was detected in trace amounts at the highest temperature tested (57.2 degrees C). This test showed insignificant effects on other digestion parameters, although some temperature-independent changes were observed that could have been seasonal effects over the year that the long-term test lasted. Thus a slow temperature increase was preferable. This observation contrasts with previous results showing the desirability of a rapid temperature rise to first establish a thermophilic culture when converting from mesophilic operation. Further research is warranted on temperature limits and process changes to optimize thermophilic anaerobic digestion.