Influence of influence of substrate type, solids retention time, and temperature on digester process performance and microbial community dynamics

Abstract

Although anaerobic digestion (AD) is a common sludge stabilization method, many digesters still suffer from suboptimal performance due to poor process stability, long retention time, and susceptibility to changes in process parameters. In this study, I explored the influence of important AD parameters namely substrate characteristics, solids retention time, and temperature on laboratory-scale digesters process performance and microbial community dynamics. Laboratoryscale anaerobic reactors fed with mixed primary and secondary sludge were used to answer the hypothesis that AD could be optimized through minimal manipulation of these parameters. Our results showed significant improvement in biogas production when substrate characteristics and solids retention times were modified. Moreover, methanogenic community was also enhanced through minimal manipulation of operating temperature.