Influence of a steam-explosion pre-treatment on the methane yield and kinetics of anaerobic digestion of two-phase olive mil solid waste or alperujo

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of a steam-explosion pre-treatment on the anaerobic digestion of the two-phase olive mill solid waste (OMSW) or alperujo. The OMSW was subjected to a steam explosion pre-treatment at 200°C and 1.57MPa during 5min. After this pre-treatment a solid fraction (SF) and a liquid fraction (LF) were generated. These two fractions were used to obtain methane through anaerobic digestion with the aim of evaluating the effect of the pre-treatment on the methane yields obtained. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests of both untreated OMSW and steam-explosion pre-treated OMSW, i.e. SF and LF, as described above, revealed that the maximum methane yield (589±42mL CH4/g VSadded) was achieved for the LF generated after the pre-treatment. From a kinetic point of view the BMP tests of untreated OMSW and the SF obtained after the pre-treatment showed a first exponential stage followed by a second sigmoidal stage after a lag period. By contrast for the LF, only a single exponential stage was observed.