Fermentation and Biogas Production of Alkaline Wasted Sludge Enhanced in a Bioelectrolysis-Assisted Anaerobic Digestion Reactor under Increasing Organic Loads

Challenges are always proposed when pursuing more energy and resource recovery from waste activated sludge via the anaerobic digestion (AD) process. Recently, microbial electrolysis has been integrated with AD proven to enhance conversion system stability. This study investigated effect of organic load on fermentation biogas production in a bioelectrolysis-assisted reactor. Four different loads alkaline 6 g/L 14 were for their effects methanogenesis rate, substrate metabolism, electrochemical performance, contribution. The results showed that had stronger tolerance than traditional system. When concentration reached g/L, methanogenic total methane yield, SS removal rate significantly increased, reaching 47.1 mL/d, 96.2 mL/gVSS, 71.6%, which 1.27, 2.08, 1.28 times those control, respectively. A high was beneficial overall but prolonged period. Under low load, efficiency deteriorated because power loss increased contribution less 50%. result suggests can work improve yield wasted digestion.