Impact of low loading on digestion of the mechanically-separated organic fraction of municipal solid waste

Changing waste management practice, introduction of new technologies, and population demographics and behaviour will impact on both quantity and composition of future waste streams. Laboratory-scale anaerobic digestion of the mechanically-separated organic fraction of municipal solid waste (ms-OFMSW) was carried out at relatively low organic loading rates (OLR), and results analysed using an energy modelling tool. Thermophilic operation with water addition and liquor recycle was compared to co-digestion with dilution water replaced by sewage sludge digestate (SSD); thermophilic and mesophilic mono-digestion were also tested at low OLR. All thermophilic conditions showed stable operation, with specific methane production (SMP) from 0.203 to 0.296 m 3 CH 4 kg −1 volatile solids (VS). SSD addition increased biogas production by ~20% and there was evidence of further hydrolysis and degradation of the SSD. Long-term operation at 1 kg VS m −3 day −1 had no adverse effect except in mesophilic conditions where SMP was lower at 0.256 m 3 CH 4 kg −1 VS and stability was reduced, especially during OLR increases. This was probably due to low total ammonia nitrogen, which stabilised at ~0.2 g N kg −1 and limited the buffering capacity. Energy analysis showed thermophilic operation at OLR 2 g VS L −1 day −1 gave 42% of the theoretical methane potential and 38% of the higher heating value, reducing to 37% and 34% respectively in mesophilic conditions. Scenario modelling indicated that under low ms-OFMSW load even an energy-depleted co-substrate such as SSD could contribute to the energy balance, and would be a better diluent than water due to its nutrient and buffering capacity.