title: Biochemical methane potential tests of different autoclaved and microwaved lignocellulosic organic fractions of municipal solid waste.
abstract: The aim of this research was to enhance the anaerobic biodegradability and methane production of two synthetic Organic Fractions of Municipal Solid Waste with different lignocellulosic contents by assessing microwave and autoclave pre-treatments. Biochemical Methane Potential assays were performed for 21days. Changes in the soluble fractions of the organic matter (measured by soluble chemical oxygen demand, carbohydrates and proteins), the first order hydrolysis constant kh and the cumulated methane production at 21days were used to evaluate the efficiency of microwaving and autoclaving pretreatments on substrates solubilization and anaerobic digestion. Microwave treatment led to a methane production increase of 8.5% for both the tested organic fractions while autoclave treatment had an increase ranging from 1.0% to 4.4%. Results showed an increase of the soluble fraction after pre-treatments for both the synthetic organic fractions. Soluble chemical oxygen demand observed significant increases for pretreated substrates (up to 219.8%). In this regard, the mediocre results of methane's production led to the conclusion that autoclaving and microwaving resulted in the hydrolysis of a significant fraction of non-biodegradable organic substances recalcitrant to anaerobic digestion.
authors.affiliation: DIEF-Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, University of Florence, via Santa Marta 3, 50139 Florence, Italy. Electronic address: isabella.pecorini@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pecorini
authors.affiliation: DIEF-Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, University of Florence, via Santa Marta 3, 50139 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.affiliation: DIEF-Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, University of Florence, via Santa Marta 3, 50139 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Ennio Antonio
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Carnevale
authors.affiliation: DIISM-Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e Scienze Matematiche, University of Siena, via Roma 56, 56100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corti
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008031:Lignin / Q000032:analysis*; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis*; D008872:Microwaves; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D062611:Solid Waste; C036909:lignocellulose; D008031:Lignin; D008697:Methane
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Autoclave; Biochemical Methane Potential; Lignocellulosic matter; Microwave; Organic solid waste