1. Anaerobic treatment of activated sludge from Swedish pulp and paper mills--biogas production potential and limitations
- Author
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Jörgen Ejlertsson, Anna Karlsson, Bo H. Svensson, Fredrik Nilsson, Jenny Gustavsson, and Xu-bin Truong
- Subjects
anaerobic digestion ,Paper ,trace elements ,Social Sciences ,Industrial Waste ,engineering.material ,Methane ,Water Purification ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Bacteria, Anaerobic ,pulp and paper industry ,Bioreactors ,Biogas ,Environmental Chemistry ,Anaerobic treatment ,activated sludge ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Water Science and Technology ,Biogas production ,Sweden ,Waste management ,Sewage ,Chemistry ,Pulp (paper) ,Samhällsvetenskap ,General Medicine ,pre-treatment ,Dewatering ,Anaerobic digestion ,Activated sludge ,engineering ,Water Microbiology ,Water Pollutants, Chemical - Abstract
The methane potential of activated sludge from six Swedish pulp and paper mills was evaluated. The methane production potential of sludge samples ranged from 100-200 NmL CH(4) g(-1) volatile solids (VS) and for four of the six sludge samples the potential exceeded 170 NmL CH(4) g(-1) VS. The effects of sludge age and dewatering on the methane production potential were evaluated. The effects of enzymatic and ultrasonic pre-treatment on the digestibility of sludge were also investigated, but energy or enzyme inputs in viable ranges did not exert a detectable, positive effect. Long-term, semi-continuous trials with sludge from two of the mills were also conducted in attempts to develop stable biogas production at loading rates up to 4 g VS L(-1). Cobalt addition (0.5 mg L(-1)) was here found to positively affect the turnover of acetate. High viscosity was a problem in all the experimental reactors and this limited the organic loading rate. Funding Agencies|Swedish Thermal Engineering Research Institute (Varmeforsk)
- Published
- 2012