Identification of recalcitrant compounds in a pilot-scale AB system: an adsorption (A) stage followed by a biological (B) stage to treat municipal wastewater

This manuscript presents a comparison of the A-stage and B-stage sludges in terms of anaerobic biodegradability and low molecular weight compounds present in the supernatant using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). The GC–MS analysis of A-stage and B-stage supernatants identified respectively 43 and 19 organic compounds consisting mainly of aromatics (27.9% and 21%), alcohols (25.6% and 15%) and acids (30.2% and 15%). The methane potential was found to be 349 ± 1 mL CH4/g VS and 238 ± 12 mL CH4/g VS, respectively. After anaerobic digestion of these sludges, a greater proportion of aromatics (42% and 58%) and a lower proportion of acids (10% and 10%) and alcohols (16% and 10%) was observed