High rate mesophilic, thermophilic, and temperature phased anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge: A pilot scale study

The paper reports the findings of a two-year pilot scale experimental trial for the mesophilic (35°C), thermophilic (55°C) and temperature phased (65+55°C) anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge. During the mesophilic and thermophilic runs, the reactor operated at an organic loading rate of 2.2kgVS/m 3d and a hydraulic retention time of 20days. In the temperature phased run, the first reactor operated at an organic loading rate of 15kgVS/m 3d and a hydraulic retention time of 2days while the second reactor operated at an organic loading rate of 2.2kgVS/m 3d and a hydraulic retention time of 18days (20days for the whole temperature phased system).The performance of the reactor improved with increases in temperature. The COD removal increased from 35% in mesophilic conditions, to 45% in thermophilic conditions, and 55% in the two stage temperature phased system. As a consequence, the specific biogas production increased from 0.33 to 0.45 and to 0.49m 3/kgVS fed at 35, 55, and 65+55°C, respectively. The extreme thermophilic reactor working at 65°C showed a high hydrolytic capability and a specific yield of 0.33gCOD (soluble) per gVS fed. The effluent of the extreme thermophilic reactor showed an average concentration of soluble COD and volatile fatty acids of 20 and 9g/l, respectively. Acetic and propionic acids were the main compounds found in the acids mixture. Because of the improved digestion efficiency, organic nitrogen and phosphorus were solubilised in the bulk. Their concentration, however, did not increase as expected because of the formation of salts of hydroxyapatite and struvite inside the reactor. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.