Mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion of waste activated sludge and source sorted biowaste in pilot- and full-scale reactors

Cristina Cavinato, David Bolzonella, Paolo Pavan, Francesco Fatone and Franco Cecchi

Renewable Energy, 2013, vol. 55, issue C, 260-265

Abstract: The paper presents the results of a pilot- and full-scale experimental campaign on the anaerobic co-digestion of waste activated sludge and biowaste both in mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. The study demonstrated the possibility to increase the specific biogas production from 0.34 to 0.49 m3/kgTVS and the gas production rate from 0.53 to 0.78 m3per m3 of reactor per day changing the reactor temperature from the mesophilic (37 °C) to the thermophilic (55 °C) range. The experimental work was carried out at pilot-scale, and the results match the full-scale behaviour. Ammonia nitrogen recycled from the anaerobic digestion section to the wastewater treatment plant accounted for about 4% of the total nitrogen loading. Digestate characteristics in terms of biological stability and heavy metals content suggested the opportunity of a short time post-aerobic stabilisation, leading to a high quality compost product.

Keywords: Anaerobic co-digestion; Biowaste; Waste activated sludge; Mesophilic; Thermophilic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (27)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:55:y:2013:i:c:p:260-265

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2012.12.044

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