Long-term performance of the thermophilic anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste under induced operational disturbances

Sophia A. Ghanimeh*, Mutasem El-Fadel, Pascal E. Saikaly, Dana Al-Sanioura

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

A laboratory- scale digester was operated for an extended period (837 days), and was subjected to three different hydraulic and organic disturbances. The temperature and pH inside the digesters were monitored online. Total biogas yield and gas composition (CH4 and CO2) were measured. Different recovery strategies were tested, which all resulted in different states of meta-stability resulting in somehow similar performance - in terms of specific methane generation. Upon overload, reduced feeding did not yield satisfactory improvement and seed enrichment with new inoculum sources was mandatory. Under a hydraulic shock, reduced biomass wastage and re-seeding was efficient. Under an organic shock, long suspended feeding was necessary to allow for volatile fatty acids dissipation. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the AWMA's 107th Annual Conference & Exhibition (Long Beach, CA 6/24-27/2014).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication107th Air and Waste Management Association Annual Conference and Exhibition, ACE 2014
PublisherAir and Waste Management Association
Pages723-731
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9781634397322
StatePublished - 2014

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Air and Waste Management Association's Annual Conference and Exhibition, AWMA
Volume1
ISSN (Print)1052-6102

Keywords

  • Anaerobic digestion
  • Disturbance
  • Long-term performance
  • Organic fraction of municipal solid waste
  • Thermophilic temperature

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • General Energy

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