title: Performance of a commercial-scale DiCOM demonstration facility treating mixed municipal solid waste in comparison with laboratory-scale data.
abstract: The current paper describes the performance of a commercial-scale (20,000 tpa) demonstration facility of the DiCOM process, a biological treatment for the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). The 21-d process combines aerobic composting and high-solids (30%DM), thermophilic (55 °C) anaerobic digestion (AD), within a single vessel. Mechanically sorted OFMSW, derived from mixed household MSW (324 t), was exposed to sequential aerobic/anaerobic/aerobic treatment. The AD, initiated by adding anaerobic inoculum from a previous trial, was stable (without pH intervention) and the onset of methanogenesis, rapid (<3 h). Volatile fatty acids formed during AD (including propionate) were exhausted prior to reuse of the inoculum. As measured by an electron flux from solids to gaseous end-products, AD accounted for the greatest portion of solids degradation (86%=160 m(3)CH(4)/drytOFMSW). However, unlike laboratory trials, limited degradation occurred during initial aerobic treatment. The discharged solids were classified as a composted soil conditioner.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Sustainability, School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia. L.Walker@murdoch.edu.au
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cord-Ruwisch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sciberras
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D002947:Cities; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D007753:Laboratories / Q000191:economics*; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics*; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014904:Western Australia
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D062611:Solid Waste; D014867:Water; D008697:Methane