A hybrid two-phase system for anaerobic digestion of food waste.
A hybrid two-phase system, consisting of a solid waste reactor as the acidification reactor and a wastewater reactor, i.e. an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, as the methanogenic reactor, for anaerobic digestion of food waste was investigated. After the pre-acidification stage, COD and total VFA removals in the methanogenic phase were in the ranges of 74-93% and 77-100%, respectively, while leachate COD and total VFA concentrations in the acidification phase decreased by 95% and 97-99%, respectively. Some 99% of the total CH4 generated was from the methanogenic phase with the CH4 content of 68-70%. About 77-79% of TOC, 57-60% of volatile solids and 79-80% of total COD were removed. The results of this laboratory-scale study show that the hybrid two-phase anaerobic batch reactor system is suitable for effective conversion of food waste into CH4 and CO2. The hybrid two-phase system can be further developed into an effective and efficient way to enhance waste stabilization in operating bioreactor landfills.
Environmental Engineering Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Blk. N1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798.
J Y
JY
Wang
H L
HL
Xu
J H
JH
Tay
D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000502:physiology*; D019149:Bioreactors; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D019649:Food Industry; D007700:Kinetics; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D014835:Volatilization
D005227:Fatty Acids; D008567:Membranes, Artificial