A novel process for anaerobic composting of municipal solid waste

A novel process has been developed and evaluated in a pilotscale program for conversion of the biodegradable fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) to methane via anaerobic composting. The sequential batch anaerobic composting (SEBAC) process employs leachate management to provide organisms, moisture, and nutrients required for rapid conversion of MSW and removal of inhibitory fermentation products during start-up. The biodegradable organic materials are converted to methane and carbon dioxide in 21–42 d, rather than the years required in landfills.     

Anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste in a nonmixed solids concentrating digestor

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - This paper reports on the performance and characteristics of a 4.5 m3 nonmixed, vertical flow Experimental anaerobic digestion Test Unit (ETU) treating...     

Improved efficiency and stable digestion of biomass in nonmixed upflow solids reactors

A nonmixed upflow solids reactor (USR), which permitted longer solids than hydraulic retention times, was used to study the anaerobic digestion performance of sea kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). The performance of the USR was compared to that of the continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) at different organic loading rates in terms of methane yield, methane production rate, and process stability. Results showed that, although digester performance was markedly affected by kelp compositional variability, methane yields and production rates in the USR were significantly higher than those observed with the CSTR. Results also showed that volatile acid concentrations, which are generally inversely related to digester stability, were significantly lower in the USR than in the CSTR.     

Avoiding digester imbalance through real-time expert system control of dilution rate

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Process control of anaerobic digesters is a particularly challenging problem because of the diversity of possible causes that can lead to digester...