Semi-continuous mono-digestion of OFMSW and Co-digestion of OFMSW with beech sawdust: Assessment of the maximum operational total solid content

Abstract

In this study, mono-digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and co-digestion of OFMSW with beech sawdust, simulating green waste, were used to investigate the maximum operational total solid (TS) content in semi-continuous high-solids anaerobic digestion (HS-AD). To alleviate substrate overloading in HS-AD, the effluent mass was relatively reduced compared to the influent mass, extending the mass retention time. To this aim, the reactor mass was daily evaluated, permitting to assess the reactor content removal by biogas production. During mono-digestion of OFMSW, the NH3 inhibition and the rapid TS removal prevented to maintain HS-AD conditions (i.e. TS ≥ 10%), without exacerbating the risk of reactor acidification. In contrast, the inclusion of sawdust in OFMSW permitted to operate HS-AD up to 30% TS, before acidification occurred. Therefore, including a lignocellulosic substrate in OFMSW can prevent acidification and stabilize HS-AD at very high TS contents (i.e. 20–30%).