Anaerobic digestion of semi-solid organic waste: biogas production and its purification

• Published in: Energy conversion and management Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 63 - 75
• Main Authors: Lastella, G., Testa, C., Cornacchia, G., Notornicola, M., Voltasio, F., Sharma, Vinod Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorption; Anaerobic digestion; Applied sciences; Biogas production; Biomass; Digested sludge; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Hydraulic retention time; Natural energy; Plug flow type reactor; Purification; Semi-solid waste; Waste reuse; Semi-solid waste; Digested sludge; Purification; Plug flow type reactor; Hydraulic retention time; Biogas production; Anaerobic digestion; Gas solid adsorption; Fruit; Production; Biogas; Organic wastes; Biomass; Flue gas purification
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/S0196-8904(01)00011-5

The main objective of the present experimental investigation was to evaluate the effects of using different bacteria inoculums at identical technical settings on the anaerobic digestion process for the treatment of semi-solid organic waste available from the orthofruit market. As a possible means to improve the biogas production, as well as reduce their pollution potential, the idea of using recycled digested sludge from the reactor, along with the orthofruit waste, while operating the reactor at maximum retention period has been applied. Purification of the biogas produced was done by means of CO
2 adsorption, resulting in a higher CH
4/CO
2 ratio and, thus, improving its use as fuel for power generation.