title: Performance optimization and validation of ADM1 simulations under anaerobic thermophilic conditions.
abstract: In this study, two experimental sets of data each involving two thermophilic anaerobic digesters treating food waste, were simulated using the Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1). A sensitivity analysis was conducted, using both data sets of one digester, for parameter optimization based on five measured performance indicators: methane generation, pH, acetate, total COD, ammonia, and an equally weighted combination of the five indicators. The simulation results revealed that while optimization with respect to methane alone, a commonly adopted approach, succeeded in simulating methane experimental results, it predicted other intermediary outputs less accurately. On the other hand, the multi-objective optimization has the advantage of providing better results than methane optimization despite not capturing the intermediary output. The results from the parameter optimization were validated upon their independent application on the data sets of the second digester.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Nabil M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Atallah
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address: mfadel@aub.edu.lb.
authors.forename: Mutasem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Fadel
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Notre Dame University - Louaize, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghanimeh
authors.affiliation: Water Desalination and Reuse Center and Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saikaly
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Majdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abou-Najm
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000032:analysis; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D002138:Calibration; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000641:Ammonia; D008697:Methane
keywords: ADM1; Food waste; Thermophilic anaerobic digestion