Performance evaluation of a completely stirred anaerobic reactor treating pig manure at a low range of mesophilic conditions

Waste Manag. 2013 Nov;33(11):2219-24. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2013.06.015. Epub 2013 Jul 8.

Abstract

Many Chinese biogas plants run in the lower range of mesophilic conditions. This study evaluated the performance of a completely stirred anaerobic reactor treating pig manure at different temperatures (20, 28 and 38°C). The start-up phase of the reactor at 20°C was very long and extremely poor performance was observed with increasing organic loading rate (OLR). At an OLR of 4.3g ODML(-1)d(-1), methane production at 28°C was comparable (3% less) with that at 38°C, but the risk of acidification was high at 28°C. At low OLR (1.3g ODML(-1)d(-1)), the biogas process appeared stable at 28°C and gave same methane yields as compared to the reactor operating at 38°C. The estimated sludge yield at 28°C was 0.065g VSSg(-1) CODremoved, which was higher than that at 38°C (0.016g VSSg(-1) CODremoved).

Keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Organic loading rate; Pig manure; Sludge yield; Temperature.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ammonia / analysis
  • Animals
  • Bioreactors*
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile / analysis
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Manure*
  • Methane / analysis
  • Swine
  • Temperature
  • Waste Management*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Volatile
  • Manure
  • Ammonia
  • Methane