Optimisation of single-phase dry-thermophilic anaerobic digestion under high organic loading rates of industrial municipal solid waste: population dynamics

Bioresour Technol. 2013 Oct:146:109-117. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.07.055. Epub 2013 Jul 20.

Abstract

Different high feed organic loading rates (OLRs) (from 5.7 g to 46.0 g TVS/l/d) or hydraulic retention times (HRTs) (from 15 d to 2 d) in single-phase dry-thermophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic fraction municipal solid waste (OFMSW) were investigated. The specific gas production (SGP) values (0.25-0.53 m(3)/kg TVS) and the percentages of Eubacteria, Archaea, H2-utilising methanogens (HUMs) and acetate-utilising methanogens (AUMs) were stable within the ranges 80.2-91.1%, 12.4-18.5%, 4.4-9.8% and 5.5-10.9%, respectively. A HUM/AUM ratio greater than 0.7 seems to be necessary to maintain very low partial pressures of H2 required for dry AD process. Increasing OLR resulted in an increase in all the populations, except for propionate-utilising acetogens (PUAs). Optimal conditions were obtained at 3d HRT (OLR=30.7 g TVS/l/d), which is lower than the doubling time of acetogens and methanogens. The methane production (MP) was clearly higher than those reported in AD of OFMSW.

Keywords: Dry-thermophilic; High OLR; Methane production; Methanogenic activity; Microbial dynamic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis
  • Archaea / metabolism
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Biofuels
  • Bioreactors / microbiology*
  • Gases
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Industrial Waste
  • Methane / chemistry*
  • Oligonucleotide Probes / chemistry
  • Pressure
  • Refuse Disposal / methods*
  • Sewage / microbiology
  • Solid Waste
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Biofuels
  • Gases
  • Industrial Waste
  • Oligonucleotide Probes
  • Sewage
  • Solid Waste
  • Methane