Anaerobic Digestion of Municipal Solid Waste: Thermophilic vs. Mesophilic Performance At High Solids

High solids anaerobic digestion of the mechanically sorted organic fraction of municipal solid waste under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions is reported. The semi-dry thermophilic process has a gas production rate two to three times the mesophilic process and nearly complete biodegradation. A 3 m3 stirred digester, feeding organic waste at 16-23% solids, was operated at hydraulic (volumetric) retention times decreasing from 15-8 days, and at organic loading rates increasing from 6 to 14 kg volatile solids m-3 day-1. An economic evaluation favours the thermophilic over the mesophilic process.

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