title: Anaerobic digestion of solid slaughterhouse waste: study of biological stabilization by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry combined with mass spectrometry.
abstract: In this paper, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) along with thermogravimetric analysis together with mass spectrometry (TG-MS analysis) were employed to study the organic matter transformation attained under anaerobic digestion of slaughterhouse waste and to establish the stability of the digestates obtained when compared with fresh wastes. Digestate samples studied were obtained from successful digestion and failed systems treating slaughterhouse waste and the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes. The FTIR spectra and TG profiles from well stabilized products (from successful digestion systems) showed an increase in the aromaticity degree and the reduction of volatile content and aliphatic structures as stabilization proceeded. On the other hand, the FTIR spectra of non-stable reactors showed a high aliphaticity degree and fat content. When comparing differential thermogravimetry (DTG) profiles of the feed and digestate samples obtained from all successful anaerobic systems, a reduction in the intensity of the low-temperature range (approximately 300 degrees C) peak was observed, while the weight loss experienced at high-temperature (450-550 degrees C) was variable for the different systems. Compared to the original waste, the intensity of the weight loss peak in the high-temperature range decreased in the reactors with higher hydraulic retention time (HRT) whereas its intensity increased and the peak was displaced to higher temperatures for the digesters with lower HRT.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Natural Resources (IRENA), University of León, Avda. de Portugal 41, 24071, León, Spain. mjcuer@unileon.es
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cuetos
authors.forename: Xiomar
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morán
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D009930:Organic Chemicals