title: Optimised anaerobic treatment of house-sorted biodegradable waste and slaughterhouse waste in a high loaded half technical scale digester.
abstract: Anaerobic co-digestion of organic wastes from households, slaughterhouses and meat processing industries was optimised in a half technical scale plant. The plant was operated for 130 days using two different substrates under organic loading rates of 10 and 12 kgCOD.m(-3).d(-1). Since the substrates were rich in fat and protein components (TKN: 12 g.kg(-1) the treatment was challenging. The process was monitored on-line and in the laboratory. It was demonstrated that an intensive and stable co-digestion of partly hydrolysed organic waste and protein rich slaughterhouse waste can be achieved in the balance of inconsistent pH and buffering NH4-N. In the first experimental period the reduction of the substrate COD was almost complete in an overall stable process (COD reduction >82%). In the second period methane productivity increased, but certain intermediate products accumulated constantly. Process design options for a second digestion phase for advanced degradation were investigated. Potential causes for slow and reduced propionic and valeric acid degradation were assessed. Recommendations for full-scale process implementation can be made from the experimental results reported. The highly loaded and stable codigestion of these substrates may be a good technical and economic treatment alternative.
authors.affiliation: Dept. IFA-Tulln, Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria. christoph.resch@boku.ac.at
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grasmug
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Smeets
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirchmayr
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D005285:Fermentation; D005735:Garbage; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011506:Proteins; D008697:Methane