Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Sewage Sludge and Trade Wastes: Beneficial and Inhibitory Effects of Individual Constituents

Anaerobic digestion (AD) of sewage sludge can be optimised by adding trade wastes (TWs) because their nutrient content and boost in biogas formation if non-inhibitory. However, some components TWs might have an inhibitory impact, such as nitrogen compounds, sulphate, heavy metals, metalloids, halogens organic pollutants (e.g., phenol). This study aimed to understand the impact on co-digestion with identify appropriate TW loads for sustainable AD operation. The composition 160 was evaluated constituents potential cause inhibition or toxicity were tested bio-methane (BMP) tests. compounds studied BMP tests included ammonia, zinc, copper, aluminium, mercury, arsenic, chloride, sulphate nitrate. An improvement observed at concentrations 2–746 mg Zn/L, 1066–2821 Cl/L zinc sodium chloride production, 162 SO4/L, 25 Hg/L mercury methane respectively. Considering characterised results tests, a volumetric ratio 10/90 is proposed suitable feedstock co-digestion.