Eco-compatible biochar mitigates volatile fatty acids stress in high load thermophilic solid-state anaerobic reactors treating agricultural waste

Abstract

A high concentration of accumulated volatile fatty acids (VFAs) is one of the most important factors resulting in reactor failure during solid-state anaerobic digestion. In this study, the feedstock-to-inoculum (F/I) ratio (0.5, 2, 3, 4 and 6) and the recovery method after failure (biochar addition or inoculum addition) were investigated in batch solid-state anaerobic digestion fed with rice straw and pig urine. An F/I ratio of 3 was the threshold for stable operation, while the reactors failed at F/I ratios of 4 and 6 because of high accumulated VFAs concentrations (above 30 g HAc/kg). Biochar addition (10% or 20% (wet weight) of the mixture) was as effective as inoculum addition (by adjusting the F/I ratio to 2 or 3) in promoting VFAs degradation in failed reactors within a short period (<1 day). The buffering capacity of biochar was important in promoting VFAs degradation.