Effect of various leachate recirculation strategies on batch anaerobic digestion of solid substrates

Publication Type
Journal contribution (peer reviewed)
Authors
KUSCH, S., H. OECHSNER and T. JUNGBLUTH
Year of publication
2012
Published in
International Journal of Environment and Waste Management
Pubisher
Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Band/Volume
9/1-2
ISBN / ISSN / eISSN
14789876
DOI
10.1504/IJEWM.2012.044161
Page (from - to)
69-88
Abstract

Various leachate recirculation strategies were applied to a batch-wise operated solid-phase digestion system in laboratory-scale tests. Comparative experiments with both continuous and intermittentleachate recirculation revealed no advantages of a continuous flow. Results suggest that leachate recirculation should not be carried out continuously during process initialisation when methanogenesis is the rate-limiting step. Continuous watering resulted in the accumulation of Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) during process start-up. In addition, no need for continuous water circulation was found for the following digestion process when hydrolysis was rate-limiting. Even in the absence of liquid recirculation, degradation was only slightly retarded when the biomass moisture content was adjusted. 

Involved persons

Involved institutions

Projects in the course of the publication