Quick-start of full-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) using aeration

Journal Article · Wed Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WASMAN.2014.12.016· OSTI ID:22470220

Lagerkvist, Anders; Pelkonen, Markku; Wikström, Tommy

Highlights: • A fast, and original, start up procedure for anaerobic digestors has been applied at full scale. • The development of a methanogenic culture has been documented using fluorescent in situ hybridization. • The technique can be widely applied. - Abstract: A conventional 1300 m{sup 3} continuously stirred anaerobic tank reactor at the city of Boden, north Sweden, which was receiving a feed of both sewage sludge and food waste, was put out of operation due to the build-up of a float phase. The reactor was emptied and cleaned. At start-up there was no methanogenic sludge available, so an unconventional start-up procedure was applied: The reactor was rapidly (8 days with 1200 kg of total solids (TS) added daily) filled with thickened, and slightly acidic sewage sludge, showing only slight methane generation, which was subsequently heated to 55 °C. Then compressed air was blown into the digester and within a month a fully functional methanogenic culture was established. The transfer from acidogenic to methanogenic conditions happened in about one week. As a start-up technique this is fast and cost efficient, it only requires the access of a compressor, electricity and a source of air. In total, about 16 tonnes of oxygen were used. It is proposed that this method may also be used as an operational amendment technique, should a reactor tend to acidify.

• OSTI ID: 22470220
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Journal Name: Waste Management Vol. 38; ISSN WAMAE2; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AERATION
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
COMPRESSED AIR
FLUORESCENCE
FOOD
IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION
METHANE
OXYGEN
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SWEDEN
URBAN AREAS