Two Phase Anaerobic Digestion System of Municipal Solid Waste by Utilizing Microaeration and Granular Activated Carbon

Fernando Canul Bacab, Elda España Gamboa, Juan Enrique Ruiz Espinoza, Rosa M Leal-Bautista, Raúl Tapia Tussell, Jorge Domínguez Maldonado, Blondy Canto Canché and Liliana Alzate-Gaviria
Additional contact information
Fernando Canul Bacab: Renewable Energy Unit, Yucatan Center for Scientific Research, Mérida 97203, Mexico
Elda España Gamboa: Renewable Energy Department, Higher Technological Institute of Motul, Motul 97205, Mexico
Juan Enrique Ruiz Espinoza: Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Autonomous University of Yucatan, Periférico Norte, Km. 33.5, Tablaje Catastral 13615, Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo Inn, C.P. Mérida 97203, Mexico
Rosa M Leal-Bautista: Water Research Unit, Yucatan Center for Scientific Research, Cancún Q. Roo 77524, Mexico
Raúl Tapia Tussell: Renewable Energy Unit, Yucatan Center for Scientific Research, Mérida 97203, Mexico
Jorge Domínguez Maldonado: Renewable Energy Unit, Yucatan Center for Scientific Research, Mérida 97203, Mexico
Blondy Canto Canché: Biotechnology Unit, Yucatán Center for Scientific Research (CICY), Mérida 97203, Mexico
Liliana Alzate-Gaviria: Renewable Energy Unit, Yucatan Center for Scientific Research, Mérida 97203, Mexico

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: In an anaerobic digestion (AD) process, the hydrolysis phase is often limited when substrates with high concentrations of solids are used. We hypothesized that applying micro-aeration in the hydrolysis phase and the application of granular activated carbon (GAC) in the methanogenesis phase could make the AD process more efficient. A packed bed reactor (PBR) coupled with an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) was conducted, and its effects on methane generation were evaluated. The micro-aeration rate applied in PBR was 254 L-air/kg-Total solids (TS)-d was compared with a control reactor. Micro-aeration showed that it reduced the hydrolysis time and increased the organic matter solubilization as chemical oxygen demand (COD) increasing 200%, with a volatile fatty acids (VFAs) increment higher than 300%, compared to the control reactor (without aeration). Our findings revealed that the implementations of microaeration and GAC in the two-phase AD system could enhance methane production by reducing hydrolysis time, increasing solid waste solubilization.

Keywords: Organic fraction of municipal solid waste; anaerobic digestion; micro-aeration; granular activated carbon; coupled reactors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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