This study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of caustic and heat treatment of sludge from a dry anaerobic reactor (DAR) with respect to increased methane production and solids destruction. The DAR was operated semi-continuously at 55 °C on sized-reduced municipal solid waste at a solids retention time of 15 days. A respirometer was employed to monitor the extent and rate of methane production from anaerobic biodegradation of DAR sludge that was treated with caustic and heat. Results indicate that caustic and heat treatment at 50 °C and 175 °C increased methane production by 22% and 52%, respectively. Also, volatile solids destruction increased from 46% to 58% and 83%, respectively. Based on these results, economic analysis for a full-scale 105 kg/d facility suggests that annual project revenue for 50 °C and 175 °C treatment is estimated at $21,000 and $445,000, respectively.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
April 01 2006
Methane production and solids destruction in an anaerobic solid waste reactor due to post-reactor caustic and heat treatment Available to Purchase
T.D. DiStefano;
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA. 17837, USA
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
A. Ambulkar
A. Ambulkar
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA. 17837, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Sci Technol (2006) 53 (8): 33–41.
Citation
T.D. DiStefano, A. Ambulkar; Methane production and solids destruction in an anaerobic solid waste reactor due to post-reactor caustic and heat treatment. Water Sci Technol 1 April 2006; 53 (8): 33–41. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2006.233
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
eBook
Pay-Per-View Access
$38.00