Abstract
This study evaluates the anaerobic digestion (AD) of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and digested sewage sludge (DSS) at lowered temperatures. AD batch tests for CH4 yield determination were carried out with DSS as inoculum between 23 and 40 °C. All results were related to organic dry matter and calculated for standard conditions (1013 hPa, 0 °C). The AD experiments at 40 °C and at 35 °C delivered specific CH4 yields of 325 ± 6 mL/g and 268 ± 27 mL/g for OFMSW alone. At lower temperatures, specific CH4 yields of 364 ± 25 mL/g (25 °C) and 172 ± 21 mL/g (23 °C) were reached. AD at 25 °C could be beneficial regarding energy input (heating costs) and energy output (CH4 yield). Plant operators could increase AD efficiencies by avoiding heating costs. The co-digestion of OFMSW together with DSS could lead to further synergies such as better exploitation of the energy potentials of DSS, but the digestate utilization could become problematic due to hygienic requirements. Efficiency potentials through lowered operating temperatures are limited. In further research, lowered process temperatures could be applied in the AD of energy crops due to large numbers of existing plants.
Highlights
IntroductionThe global municipal solid waste (MSW) generation forecast for 2025 is about 2200 million tons
Published: 24 March 2021The global municipal solid waste (MSW) generation forecast for 2025 is about 2200 million tons
EU-wide, landfilling is declining but still relevant, while the depositing of untreated MSW and OFMSW is already forbidden in Germany [3,4,5]
Summary
The global municipal solid waste (MSW) generation forecast for 2025 is about 2200 million tons. Consequent to that, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). In 2015, 241 million tons of MSW with a share of 40–60% of organics were generated in the EU [2]. If OFMSW is not collected and treated separately and instead disposed of in landfills with other MSW components; degradation processes such as anaerobic digestion (AD) occur underground, producing several environmental damages such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or hazardous substances causing health hazards. Reduction targets for landfilling of MSW and OFMSW in the EU have been defined and further developed since the late 1990s. EU-wide, landfilling is declining but still relevant, while the depositing of untreated MSW and OFMSW is already forbidden in Germany [3,4,5]
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