title: Anaerobic treatment of activated sludge from Swedish pulp and paper mills--biogas production potential and limitations.
abstract: The methane potential of activated sludge from six Swedish pulp and paper mills was evaluated. The methane production potential of sludge samples ranged from 100-200 NmL CH4 g(-1) volatile solids (VS) and for four of the six sludge samples the potential exceeded 170 NmL CH4 g(-1) VS. The effects of sludge age and dewatering on the methane production potential were evaluated. The effects of enzymatic and ultrasonic pre-treatment on the digestibility of sludge were also investigated, but energy or enzyme inputs in viable ranges did not exert a detectable, positive effect. Long-term, semi-continuous trials with sludge from two of the mills were also conducted in attempts to develop stable biogas production at loading rates up to 4 g VS L(-1). Cobalt addition (0.5 mg L(-1)) was here found to positively affect the turnover of acetate. High viscosity was a problem in all the experimental reactors and this limited the organic loading rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Water and Environmental Studies, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. annka@tema.liu.se
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Xu-Bin
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gustavsson
authors.forename: Bo H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Jörgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ejlertsson
mesh_terms: D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000378:metabolism*; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000517:prevention & control; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D010209:Paper; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D013548:Sweden; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008697:Methane