Increasing biogas production by thermal (70ºC) sludge pre-treatment prior to thermophilic anaerobic digestion
Ferrer, Ivet (GIRO Technological Centre)
Ponsá Salas, Sergio (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)
Vázquez Lima, Felícitas (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina "Vicent Villar Palasí")
Font i Segura, Xavier (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)

Date:	2008
Abstract:	The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of a low temperature pre-treatment (70 °C) on the efficiency of thermophilic anaerobic digestion of primary and secondary waste sludge. Firstly, effect of sludge pre-treatment time (9, 24, 48 and 72 h) was evaluated by the increase in volatile dissolved solids (VDSs), volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and biogas production in thermophilic batch tests. Secondly, semi-continuous process performance was studied in a lab-scale reactor (5 L) working at 55 °C and 10 days solid retention time. The 70 °C pre-treatment showed an initial solubilization effect (increasing VDS by almost 10 times after 9 h), followed by a progressive generation of VFA (from 0 to nearly 5 g L⁻¹ after 72 h). Biogas production increased up to 30% both in batch tests and in semi-continuous experiments. Our results suggest that a short period (9 h) low temperature pre-treatment should be enough to enhance methane production through thermophilic anaerobic digestion of sludge.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología REN2002-00926/TECNO
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió sotmesa a revisió
Subject:	Anaerobic processes ; Biosolid ; Thermal pre-treatment ; Thermophiles ; Waste-water treatment ; Waste treatment
Published in:	Biochemical engineering journal, Vol. 42, Issue 2, (Nov. 2008) p. 186-192, ISSN 1369-703X

DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2008.06.020

Pre-print 28 p, 813.8 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB)
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Engineering > Composting Research Group (GICOM)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles