A comparison of analytical techniques for evaluating food waste degradation by anaerobic digestion

Organic matter contained in food waste was degraded by anaerobic digestion under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions at two hydraulic retention times. Evolution of the digestion process was followed by thermogravimetry analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance. All analytical methods suggested that longer retention times might be required for food waste stabilization under mesophilic conditions as compared to thermophilic stabilization. All the analytical methods showed that the stabilization process consisted of two steps, where complex organic molecules were formed during initial stabilization and then digested providing sufficient hydraulic retention time. Longer hydraulic retention times were required for food waste stabilization under mesophilic conditions. Overall, thermal and ¹H NMR analyses of the digestate samples might be recommended if more detailed analysis is required, while fluorescence measurements can be used as a fast screening technique, which provides qualitative assessment of the stabilization process.     

Enhancing digestion efficiency of POME in anaerobic sequencing batch reactor with ozonation pretreatment and cycle time reduction

Ozonation pretreatment was applied to palm oil mill effluent (POME) prior to anaerobic digestion using the anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR). Ozonation increased BOD/COD by 37.9% with a COD loss of only 3.3%. At organic loads of 6.48-12.96 kg COD/m³/d, feeding with non-ozonated POME caused a system failure. The ozonated POME gave significantly higher TCOD removal at loadings 6.52 and 9.04 kg COD/m³/d but failed to sustain the operation at loading 11.67 kg COD/m³/d. Effects of cycle time (CT) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) were determined using quadratic regression model. The generated response surface and contour plot showed that at this high load conditions (6.52-11.67 kg COD/m³/d), longer HRT and shorter CT gave the ASBR higher organic removal efficiency and methane yield. The model was able to satisfactorily describe the relationship of these two key operating parameters.     

Dual anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge and confectionery waste

Three configurations for a dual digestion system were examined. The units were based on three 5 l completely stirred tank reactors (CSTR). A first-stage thermophilic digester was used to provide the feed to each of the two second-stage mesophilic (35°C) digesters. Using a mixture of sewage sludge and strong confectionery waste, the thermophilic digester was operated at 55°C with a hydraulic retention time of 4 h. The mesophilic digesters were operated at hydraulic retention times of 8, 12 and 15 days. In terms of the reduction of volatile solids (VS), the three dual digestion configurations were similar but were more effective than the single-stage reactor which was used as a control. However, based on the specific methane yield (m³ CH₄/kg VS removed), the configuration with a first stage operating at 55°C and a secondary digester at 35°C with a hydraulic retention time of 12 days was the most effective. This configuration also maintained a more stable pH, irrespective of the quality of the feed sludge.     

Effect of temperature on the performance of an anaerobic tubular reactor treating fruit and vegetable waste

This study compares the performance of anaerobic digestion of fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) in the thermophilic (55 °C) process with those under psychrophilic (20 °C) and mesophilic (35 °C) conditions in a tubular anaerobic digesters on a laboratory scale. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) ranged from 10 to 20 days, and raw fruit and vegetable waste was supplied in a semi-continuous mode at various concentrations of total solids (TS) (4, 6, 8 and 10% on dry weight). Biogas production from the experimental thermophilic digester was higher on average than from psychrophilic and mesophilic digesters by 144 and 41%, respectively. The net energy production in the thermophilic digester was 195.7 and 49.07 kJ per day higher than that for the psychrophilic and mesophilic digesters, respectively. The relation between the daily production of biogas and the temperature indicates that for the same produced quantity of biogas, the size of the thermophilic digester can be reduced with regard to that of the psychrophilic and the mesophilic digesters.     

PCB and AOX removal in mesophilic and thermophilic sewage sludge digestion

In this study, a comparison of the biodegradation of adsorbed organic halogen compounds (AOX) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic digestion (seeded with waste activated sludge) at different hydraulic retention times (HRT 18, 22 and 26 days in the mesophilic digester and 8, 12, 18, 22 and 26 days in the thermophilic digester) was performed. Results obtained in this work showed an enhancement of both PCB and AOX biodegradation under thermophilic conditions. The total PCB removal efficiency was in the range of 59.4–83.5% under thermophilic conditions and 33.0–58.0% under mesophilic conditions. HRT played an important role in the digester performance since high working HRTs implied more reduction of the total PCB amount in the sludge. The total PCB content in the treated sludge under thermophilic conditions lied below the cut-off limit proposed in the 3rd draft of Directive presented to the European Commission [CEC, Working Document on Sludge (3rd Draft), Commission of the European Communities Directorate-General Environment, ENV.E.3/LM, Brussels, 27 April 2000]. Besides, a bioaccumulation of lightly chlorinated PCBs was detected in the mesophilic digester, which is in concordance with the theory that the PCBs are anaerobically biodegraded by means of a reductive dechlorination mechanism. On the other hand, the AOX removal efficiency was in the range of 40.4–50.3% for thermophilic conditions and 30.2–43.2% for mesophilic conditions. The AOX content in the treated sludge of both thermophilic and mesophilic digesters did not exceed the cut-off limit proposed in the 3rd draft [CEC, Working Document on Sludge (3rd Draft), Commission of the European Communities Directorate-General Environment, ENV.E.3/LM, Brussels, 27 April 2000]. Moreover, high HRTs promoted an improvement of the AOX removal capacity of the anaerobic digestion.     

Mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion of source-sorted organic wastes: effect of ammonia on glucose degradation and methane production

The wet organic fraction of household wastes was digested anaerobically at 37 °C and 55 °C. At both temperatures the volatile solids loading was increased from 1 g l⁻¹ day⁻¹ to 9.65 g l⁻¹ day⁻¹, by reducing the nominal hydraulic retention time from 93 days to 19 days. The volatile solids removal in the reactors at both temperatures for the same loading rates was in a similar range and was still 65% at 19 days hydraulic retention time. Although more biogas was produced in the thermophilic reactor, the energy conservation in methane was slightly lower, because of a lower methane content, compared to the biogas of the mesophilic reactor. The slightly lower amount of energy conserved in the methane of the thermophilic digester was presumably balanced by the hydrogen that escaped into the gas phase and thus was no longer available for methanogenesis. In the thermophilic process, 1.4 g/l ammonia was released, whereas in the mesophilic process only 1 g/l ammonia was generated, presumably from protein degradation. Inhibition studies of methane production and glucose fermentation revealed a K _i (50%) of 3 g/l and 3.7 g/l ammonia (equivalent to 0.22 g/l and 0.28 g/l free NH₃) at 37 °C and a K _i (50%) of 3.5 g/l and 3.4 g/l ammonia (equivalent to 0.69 g/l and 0.68 g/l free NH₃) at 55 °C. This indicated that the thermophilic flora tolerated at least twice as much of free NH₃ than the mesophilic flora and, furthermore, that the thermophilic flora was able to degrade more protein. The apparent ammonia concentrations in the mesophilic and in the thermophilic biowaste reactor were low enough not to inhibit glucose fermentation and methane production of either process significantly, but may have been high enough to inhibit protein degradation. The data indicated either that the mesophilic and thermophilic protein degraders revealed a different sensitivity towards free ammonia or that the mesophilic population contained less versatile protein degraders, leaving more protein undegraded. Received: 26 March 1997 / Received revision: 13 May 1997 / Accepted: 19 May 1997     

Anaerobic digestion of secondary residuals from an anaerobic bioreactor at a brewery to enhance bioenergy generation

Many beer breweries use high-rate anaerobic digestion (AD) systems to treat their soluble high-strength wastewater. Biogas from these AD systems is used to offset nonrenewable energy utilization in the brewery. With increasing nonrenewable energy costs, interest has mounted to also digest secondary residuals from the high-rate digester effluent, which consists of yeast cells, bacteria, methanogens, and small (hemi)cellulosic particles. Mesophilic (37 °C) and thermophilic (55 °C) lab-scale, low-rate continuously-stirred anaerobic digestion (CSAD) bioreactors were operated for 258 days by feeding secondary residuals at a volatile solids (VS) concentration of ∼40 g l⁻¹. At a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 15 days and a VS loading rate of 2.7 g VS l⁻¹ day⁻¹, the mesophilic bioreactor showed an average specific volumetric biogas production rate of 0.88 l CH₄ l⁻¹ day⁻¹ and an effluent VS concentration of 22.2 g VS l⁻¹ (43.0% VS removal efficiency) while the thermophilic bioreactor displayed similar performances. The overall methane yield for both systems was 0.21 l CH₄ g⁻¹ VS fed and 0.47–0.48 l CH₄ g⁻¹ VS removed. A primary limitation of thermophilic digestion of this protein-rich waste is the inhibition of methanogens due to higher nondissociated (free) ammonia (NH₃) concentrations under similar total ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) concentrations at equilibrium. Since thermophilic AD did not result in advantageous methane production rates or yields, mesophilic AD was, therefore, superior in treating secondary residuals from high-rate AD effluent. An additional digester to convert secondary residuals to methane may increase the total biogas generation at the brewery by 8% compared to just conventional high-rate digestion of brewery wastewater alone. JIMB-2008: BioEnergy—Special issue.     

Mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion of abattoir wastewater and fruit and vegetable waste in anaerobic sequencing batch reactors

Anaerobic co-digestion of fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) and abattoir wastewater (AW) was investigated using anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (ASBRs). The effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and temperature variations on digesters performances were examined. At both 20 and 10 days biogas production for co-digestion was greater thanks to the improved balance of nutrients. The high specific gas productions for the different digestion processes were 0.56, 0.61 and 0.85 l g⁻¹ total volatile solids (TVS) removal for digesters treating AW, FVW and AW + FVW, respectively. At an HRT of 20 days, biogas production rates from thermophilic digesters were higher on average than from mesophilic AW, FVW and AW + FVW digestion by 28.5, 44.5 and 25%, respectively. However, at 10 days of HRT results showed a decrease of biogas production rate for AW and AW + FVW digestion processes due to the high amount of free ammonia at high organic loading rate (OLR).     

Development of anaerobic digestion methods for palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a highly polluting wastewater that pollutes the environment if discharged directly due to its high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) concentration. Anaerobic digestion has been widely used for POME treatment with large emphasis placed on capturing the methane gas released as a product of this biodegradation treatment method. The anaerobic digestion method is recognized as a clean development mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto protocol. Certified emission reduction (CER) can be obtained by using methane gas as a renewable energy. This review aims to discuss the various anaerobic treatments of POME and factors that influence the operation of anaerobic treatment. The POME treatment at both mesophilic and thermophilic temperature ranges are also analyzed.     

Anaerobic digestion of whole stillage from dry-grind corn ethanol plant under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions

Anaerobic digestion of whole stillage from a dry-grind corn-based ethanol plant was evaluated by batch and continuous-flow digesters under thermophilic and mesophilic conditions. At whole corn stillage concentrations of 6348 to 50,786 mg total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD)/L, at standard temperature (0 °C) and pressure (1 atm), preliminary biochemical methane potential assays produced 88 ± 8 L (49 ± 5 L CH₄) and 96 ± 19 L (65 ± 14 L CH₄) biogas per L stillage from mesophilic and thermophilic digesters, respectively. Continuous-flow studies for the full-strength stillage (TCOD = 254 g/L) at organic loadings of 4.25, 6.30 and 9.05 g TCOD/L days indicated unstable performance for the thermophilic digester. Among the sludge retention times (SRTs) of 60, 45 and 30 days tested, the mesophilic digestion was successful only at 60 days-SRT which does not represent a practical operation time for a large scale bioethanol plant. Future laboratory studies will focus on different reactor configurations to reduce the SRT needed in the digesters.     

Effect of extracellular enzyme activity on digestion performance of mesophilic UASB reactor treating high-strength municipal wastewater

Effect of extracellular enzyme activity on digestion performance of up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor was investigated for enhancement of anaerobic treatability of municipal wastewater. Two identical UASB reactors (9 L), namely Reactor-A (without enzyme addition) and Reactor-B (with enzyme addition), were simultaneously operated at mesophilic conditions (32 ± 2 °C) with a hydraulic retention time of 24 h. Preliminary test results showed that the highest total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) removal were achieved with an extracellular enzyme dosage of 0.2 mL/L. In the activation period of the extracellular enzyme (on days 186–212), while Reactor-A removed up to 69.3% of TCOD and 55.9% of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), Reactor-B effectively removed up to 81.9% of TCOD and 72.2% of SCOD. The average VFA/alkalinity ratios were determined to be about 0.40 (±0.03) and 0.28 (±0.08) for Reactor-A and Reactor-B, respectively.     

The use of ultrasound and gamma-irradiation as pre-treatments for the anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures

The effect of ultrasound and gamma-irradiation used as pre-treatments for the anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge at both mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures was examined. Untreated activated sludge was also subjected to anaerobic digestion at these temperatures as a control. The sonication time was 90 s using a Soniprep 150 (MSE Scientific Instruments) which operated at 23 kHz and had been adjusted to give an output of 47 W and the gamma-irradiation dose was 500 krad. The digesters were operated in a semi-continuous mode, being fed with fresh sludge every 24 h at hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 8, 10 and 12 days. Over the 24 h period the differences between the digesters, in terms of volatile solids (VS) reductions and biogas production, were not statistically significant for any particular set of conditions. Thermophilic digestion performed better than mesophilic digestion in terms of biogas production, VS reductions (except at HRT of 8 days) and specific methane yields and the optimum retention time was 10 days, at both temperatures. When gas production over the initial eight hours (probably the hydrolytic stage) was examined, it was found that the gas production rates for pre-treated sludges were higher than those for untreated sludges. This was most pronounced at thermophilic temperatures and a HRT of 10 days. Sonication did not affect the numbers of faecal coliforms in the sludge. However, gamma-radiation caused a 3-log reduction and, when coupled with mesophilic digestion, gave a product which contained < 100 g(-1) TS. Thermophilic anaerobic digestion produced sludges which contained < 1 g(-1) TS irrespective of any pre-treatment.     

Use of respirometer in evaluation of process and toxicity of thermophilic anaerobic digestion for treating kitchen waste

A thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TAnD, 55 degrees C) system was adopted to hydrolyze the kitchen waste for 3 days, which was then fermented for a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 10 days. The TAnD system performed much better than a similar system without thermal pre-treatment. A bubble respirometer was employed to study the effects of thermal pre-treatment, which showed that pre-treatment at 60 degrees C yielded the highest Total COD (TCOD) removal efficiency (79.2%) after 300h reaction. Respirometer results also indicated that oil and grease (O and G) began to inhibit the TAnD system at a concentration of approximately 1000mg/L and the gas production was inhibited by 50% at a concentration of approximately 7500mg/L of sodium.     

Thermophilic semi-continuous anaerobic treatment of palm oil mill effluent

Summary A semi-continuous anaerobic digester was used to degrade palm oil mill effluent (POME) under thermophilic conditions. A volumetric loading of 15.1 kg COD/m³·day equivalent to a hydraulic retention time of 4.3 days was maintained for two months. This rate is significantly faster than the rates achieved in previously reported studies. Soluble COD removals were greater than 96%.     

Influence of temperature on the performance of anaerobic fixed-film reactors utilizing screened dairy manure

Thermophilic (55°C) and mesophilic (35°C and 22°C) anaerobic digestions in laboratory scale (4 litre) fixed-film reactors fed with screened dairy manure were successfully operated over a range of hydraulic retention times, from 1 to 20 days. Maximum methane production rates of 1·82, 1·68 and 1·28 litres CH₄ litre⁻¹ day⁻¹ occurred at 1, 1·5 and 1 days HRT for the respective 55°C, 35°C and 22°C reactors. Both thermophilic and mesophilic digestions achieved maximum biodegradation efficiency at 10 days HRT. The thermophilic fixed-film reactor performed better than completely-mixed reactors in terms of methane production at HRTs shorter than 2 days. From the results, mesophilic fixed-film reactor operated at 35°C provided optimum methane production and net energy output between 1 and 5 days HRT.     

Effects of process stability on anaerobic biodegradation of LAS in UASB reactors

Anaerobic biodegradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) was studied in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors operated under mesophilic (37 degrees C) and thermophilic (55 degrees C) conditions. LAS C12 concentration in the influents was 10 mg.L(-1), and the hydraulic retention time in the reactors was 2 days. Adsorption of LAS C12 was assessed in an autoclaved control reactor and ceased after 115 days. The reactors were operated for a minimum of 267 days; 40-80% removal of LAS C12 was observed. A temperature reduction from 55 degrees C to 32 degrees C for 30 h resulted in process imbalance as indicated by increase of volatile fatty acids (VFA). The imbalance was much more intense in the LAS amended reactor compared with an unamended reactor. At the same time, the process imbalance resulted in discontinued LAS removal. This finding indicates that process stability is a key factor in anaerobic biological removal of LAS. After a recovery period, the removal of LAS resumed, providing evidence of biological anaerobic LAS degradation. The removal remained constant until termination of experiments in the reactor. Biodegradation of LAS in the mesophilic reactor was at the same level as in the thermophilic reactor under stable conditions.     

Mesophilic and thermophilic aerobic digestion of municipal sludge in an airlift U-shape bioreactor

Aerobic digestion of primary and secondary sludges was studied in airlift bioreactors at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures. The experimental studies were conducted with a laboratory U-shape airlift reactor (operating volume 23 liters) and in a pilot U-shape airlift reactor of 1150 liters operating volume. In the laboratory reactor, with cold (6°C) and concentrated (3–4% solids) feed of primary and secondary municipal sludge, a 30% volatile suspended solids (VSS) reduction was achieved with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2·5 days. A VSS loading rate of 8·2 kg VSS/m³/day was achieved. This loading is comparable to that obtained in a pure-oxygen sparged, mixed reactor.In the pilot-plant reactor at mesophilic temperature (31–33°C), a VSS loading rate of 7·9 kg VSS/m³/day and a VSS reduction of 40% were achieved with a HRT of 4 days.     

Anaerobic co-digestion of olive mill wastewater with olive mill solid waste in a tubular digester at mesophilic temperature

Anaerobic co-digestion is a well established process for treating many types of organic wastes, both solid and liquid. In this study we have investigated, on a laboratory scale, the anaerobic co-digestion of olive mill wastewater (OMW) with olive mill solid waste (OMSW) using semi-continuous, feeding, tubular digesters operated at mesophilic temperatures. Each digester was fed with an influent, composed of OMW and OMSW, at an organic loading rate (OLR) varying between 0.67 and 6.67 g COD/l/d. The hydraulic retention times (HRT) were 12, 24 and 36 days. The TCOD concentrations of OMW used as the main substrate were 24, 56 and 80 g COD/l; the amount of the dry OMSW used as a co-substrate was fixed to approximately 56 g/l of OMW. The results indicated that the best methane production was about 0.95 l/l/day obtained at an OLR = 4.67 g COD/l/d, corresponding to influent TCOD = 56 g COD/l at an HRT = 12d. In contrast, the maximum TCOD removal efficiency (89%) was achieved at an OLR = 0.67 g COD/l/d, corresponding to influent TCOD = 24 g COD/l at an HRT = 36 d. Moreover, the inhibition of biogas production was observed at the highest OLR studied.     

Performance of a fixed-bed reactor packed with carbon felt during anaerobic digestion of cellulose

The anaerobic digestion of cellulose was assessed in batch and semi-continuous studies using a carbon felt fixed-bed reactor. In the batch operation, the volatile solids reduction (%) and the cumulative methane production during the mesophilic and thermophilic digestion were 52.2% and 15.9%, 96.7 and 49.2 ml/g-total solid fed, respectively. After 99 days of semi-continuous mesophilic digestion, the degradation of cellulose reached its highest level of 67.6% at the hydraulic retention time of 9 days. The methane production and methane concentration of biogas from the bioreactor were maintained at a steady state. The fixed-bed reactor with carbon felt would be suitable for the efficient anaerobic digestion of cellulose. The biomass distribution in the reactor was, in the liquid phase 0.73 g/l-reactor, in the felt 1.59 g/l-reactor, and on the felt surface 9.86 g/l-reactor, which indicated that most of the microbes were immobilized on the carbon felt fixed-bed in the reactor.     

Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of Lurgi coal gasification wastewater in a UASB reactor

Lurgi coal gasification wastewater (LCGW) is a refractory wastewater, whose anaerobic treatment has been a severe problem due to its toxicity and poor biodegradability. Using a mesophilic (35 ± 2 °C) reactor as a control, thermophilic anaerobic digestion (55 ± 2 °C) of LCGW was investigated in a UASB reactor. After 120 days of operation, the removal of COD and total phenols by the thermophilic reactor could reach 50-55% and 50-60% respectively, at an organic loading rate of 2.5 kg COD/(m³ d) and HRT of 24 h; the corresponding efficiencies were both only 20-30% in the mesophilic reactor. After thermophilic digestion, the wastewater concentrations of the aerobic effluent COD could reach below 200 mg/L compared with around 294 mg/L if mesophilic digestion was done and around 375 mg/L if sole aerobic pretreatment was done. The results suggested that thermophilic anaerobic digestion improved significantly both anaerobic and aerobic biodegradation of LCGW.