Kinetic analysis of the methanization of the byproducts from OFMSW fermentation

Abstract

AbstractBACKGROUNDDuring anaerobic digestion of wastes, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production has been studied, but little attention has been paid to alcohols and lactic acid. Thermodynamically, lactic acid and alcohols are better substrates to produce methane than other VFA. This research identified the metabolites produced during the fermentation of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste and studied their methanization in a second stage. Analysis of the methane production curves is provided and explained according to Gibbʼs free energy of acetogenesis and methanogenesis. Based on the Michaelis–Menten model, a kinetic analysis is presented.RESULTSThe specific methane production of the identified acids and alcohols are acetic acid, 343 NL/kgCOD; ethanol, 296; methanol, 181; butyric acid, 108; lactic acid, 64. Lactic and butyric acids present a long adaptation phase followed by a fast and short methane production. Acetic acid and ethanol finished the reaction in less than 16 h. The highest methane production rates (Vmax) were for butyric acid, methanol, and ethanol with 2136, 1934, and 1928 NmL L–1, respectively. The best affinity (lowest Km) values were for acetic and lactic acids and ethanol with 1.2, 1.9, and 2.0 gCOD L–1.CONCLUSIONTogether, acetic acid and ethanol represent 92% of all fermentation products. No endogenous methane production was observed during the methanization from acetic acid and ethanol. The highest specific methane production belongs to acetic acid (98% of the theoretical) and the lowest corresponds to lactic acid. Except for propionic acid, the methanization of the selected substrates follows the Michaelis and Menten model. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).