Control/Promotion of the Refuse Methanogenic Fermentation

Abstract

Although practiced for more than 7 millennia, the landfill disposal of refuse has, as yet, with few exceptions, been merely regarded as a low-cost disposal option and its exploitation potential has been largely ignored. Today, however, a number of possibilities are under consideration including the production of energy, chemical feedstock, value-added chemicals, carbon dioxide and protein; the use of refuse as an anaerobic filter for the co-disposal of industrial wastewater and sludge; and the restoration of impoverished soils by fresh or composted refuse addition. Development of these technologies, however, necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental microbiology and biochemistry of refuse catabolism. Existing fundamental knowledge underpinning these technologies will be considered in a series of review articles. In the first, control/exploitation of the solid-state refuse methanogenic fermentation is examined with specific reference to the effects of first-tier variable manipulations.