title: Combined thermochemical and fermentative destruction of municipal biosolids: a comparison between thermal hydrolysis and wet oxidative pre-treatment.
abstract: In this study the comparative destruction of municipal biosolids using thermal hydrolysis (140 or 165°C) and wet oxidation (220°C) was followed by biological degradation via mesophilic anaerobic digestion (36°C). Wet oxidation (WO) destroyed more than 93% of the VSS, while thermal hydrolysis (TH) at 140 and 165°C destroyed 9% and 22%, respectively. Combined TH and anaerobic digestion resulted in approximately 50% VSS destruction. The ultimate methane potential of the combined fractions from the thermal hydrolysis at 140 and 165°C improved by 12-13% relative to the untreated control sample. Methane production from the WO material was 53% of the control yield and wholly attributable to soluble organic carbon in the liquid fraction, indicating that the WO destroyed all putrescible carbon from the solids fraction. Point sampling during the BMP assay revealed that methanogenic development, not solids hydrolysis, was the kinetic barrier during anaerobic digestion in this study.
authors.affiliation: Green Processing Unit, Sustainable Design, Scion, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand. PJStrong@gmail.com
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gapes
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002947:Cities; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005285:Fermentation; D005374:Filtration; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007700:Kinetics; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D009520:New Zealand; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012995:Solubility; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis; D013696:Temperature; D014835:Volatilization; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D013431:Sulfates; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002244:Carbon; D000641:Ammonia; D009584:Nitrogen; D008697:Methane; D019342:Acetic Acid