FUNDAMENTALS AND TECHNOLOGY

OPTIONS FOR ANAEROBIC

TREATMENT OF SOLID WASTES FOR
ENERGY RECOVERY

DR. R.A. RAMANUJAM

Scientist
Central Leather Research Institute
Chennai

INTRODUCTION

Anaerobic digestion process is mainly used for treatment of

primary and secondary sludge produced from aerobic
wastewater treatment plants
industrial wastewater
livestock waste
Organic
g
Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW)

The anaerobic digestion is classified as a Process to Significantly

Reduce Pathogens (PSRP).

Thermophilic anaerobic sludge digestion is considered a Process

to Further Reduce Pathogens (PFRP) under US-EPA regulations.

MECHANISM OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF

ORAGNIC SOLID WASTE

Feed
100 kg

Volatile
V
l til
Solids
70 kg
Fixed
Solids
30 kg

Raw feed: 100 kg

(70 % volatile solids)

Volatile
Solids to
Biogas
40 kg

Methane, Carbon dioxide,

Hydrogen, Hydrogen sulphide,
Ammonia

Volatile
Solids
30 kg

Volatile
Solids
30 kg

Fixed
Solids
30 kg

Fixed
Solids
30 kg
Digested sludge: 60 kg
(50% volatile solids)

C/N RATIO OF DIFFERENT RAW MATERIALS

C/N ratio of 25:1 to 32:1 have positive effect on the methane yield.
Raw materials

Carbon (percentage Nitrogen (percentage

b weight)
by
i ht)
b weight)
by
i ht)

C/N ratio

Plant
Wheat straw

46

0.53

87 : 1

Rice straw

42

0 63
0.63

67 : 1

Corn stalks

40

0.75

53 : 1

Fallen leaves

41

1.00

41 : 1

Soybean stalks

41

1 30
1.30

32 : 1

Weeds

14

0.54

27 : 1

Peanut stalks and leaves

11

0.59

19 : 1

Sheep

16

0.55

29 : 1

Cattle

7.3

0.29

25 : 1

Horse

10

0 42
0.42

24 : 1

Pig

7.8

0.65

13 : 1

Human faeces

2.5

0.85

2.9 : 1

Dung

PROCESS AND DESIGN ASPECTS FOR

ANAEROBIC SLUDGE DIGESTION

PROCESS
pH
Alkalinity
Temperature
Toxicity
Co-digestion
C di
ti
Sanitation

of digestate

OPTIMUM PROCESS CONDITIONS FOR

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
Parameter
pH

Optimum value
6.8 7.4

Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP)

Volatile fatty acids (mg/l as acetic acid)
Alkalinity (mg/l as CaCO3)

-520 to -530
50 500
1500 3000

Temperature
Mesophilic

30 35oC

Thermophilic

50 56oC

Hydraulic retention time

10 15 days

Gas composition
Methane

65 70%

Carbon dioxide

30 35%

OPTIMUM AND INHIBITORY CONCENTRATIONS OF

INORGANIC IONS IN DIGESTION TANKS
Inorganic ion

Optimum
concentration

Moderate
inhibition

Strong
inhibition

Sodium, mg/l

100 200

3500 5500

8000

Potassium, mg/l

200 400

2500 4500

12000

Calcium, mg/l

100 200

(2500 4500)

(8000)

75 150

(1000 15000)

(3000)

Ammonia, mg/l

50 1000

15000

8000

Sulphide, mg/l

0.1 10

100

200

Not known

20

Not known

Not known

Magnesium, mg/l

Chromium % total solids

Cobalt, mg/l

Organic compounds have been reported to be detoxified in anaerobic reactions

such as nitro-aromatic compounds, chlorinated aliphates, azodyes,
N-substituted aromatics, etc

TOXICITY

Long chain fatty acids (LCFA) such as oleate and

stearate toxic to the anaerobic process.
LCFA are absorbed on the particulate matter and thus
not active as inhibitor.
Heavy metals are toxic in the concentration range of
10 3 to 10-4
10-3
10 4 M.
M
Soluble metal ions is normally low due to precipitation
of insoluble metal salts.
Level of heavy metals is more problematic to the
environment rather than on the process.

THEORETICAL QUANTITIES AND COMPOSITIONS OF

GAS GENERATED FROM DIFFERENT CLASSES OF
ORGANIC MATERIAL
Material

Composition by
weight

Volumes from 1 kg
dry material

% CH4 by Vol
Vol.

% CO2

% CH4

Biogas

CH4

Carbohydrate

74

27

0.75 m3

0.37 m3

50%

Fat

52

48

1.44 m3

1.04 m3

72%

Protein

73

27

0.98 m3

0.49 m3

50%

QUANTITIES OF GAS PRODUCED FROM SOME

TYPICAL ORGANIC WASTES
Waste type

Volume of gas/weight of organic

material VS

Volume/animal/
day, m3

m3/kg

% CH4

Sewage sludge

0.31 0.74

68

0.028

Pigs
g

0.37 0.50

65 70

0.24

0.094 0.31

65

0.22

0.31 0.62

60

0.014

Yeast industry

0.49

Meat packing

0.5 0.66

Maize starch

0.67

Distillery grain

0.68

Cattle
Poultry

METHANE YIELD FROM DIFFERENT

TYPES OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE
Type of organic waste

Composition of the organic

material

Organic
content (%)

Methane yield
(m3/ton)

Stomach and intestine

content

Carbohydrates,
y
, proteins
p
and
lipids

15 20

40 60

Floatation sludge
(dewatered)

65 70% proteins, 30 35%

lipids

13 18

80 130

Bentonite-bound oil

70 75% lipids, 25 30%

other organic matter

40 45

350 450

Fish-oil sludge

30 50% lipids and other

organic matter

80 85

450 600

Source sorted organic

household waste

Carbohydrates, proteins and

lipids

20 30

150 240

Type of organic waste

Composition of the organic

material

Organic
content (%)

Methane yield
(m3/ton)

Whey

75 80% lactose and 20

25% protein

7 10

40 55

Concentrated Whey

75 80% lactose and 20

25% protein

18 22

100 130

Size water

70% p
proteins and 30% lipids
p

10 15

70 100

Marmelade

90% sugar, fruit organic acids

50

300

S
Soya
oil
il / Margarine
M
i

90% vegetable
t bl oil
il

90

800 1000

Methylated spirits

40% alcohol

40

240

Sewage sludge

Carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins

34

17 22

Concentrated sewage
sludge
l d

Carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins
i

15 20

85 110

CO DIGESTION
CO-DIGESTION

Organic industrial wastes contain saccharides,

starches, lipids and proteins.
F t produces
Fat
d
relatively
l ti l more biogas
bi
as compared
d to
t
carbohydrate and protein
Methane content is also higher in the biogas
generated from fat.
Manure has low solids concentration.
High content of water together with high fraction of
fibers in the manure is the reason for low methane
yields
10 20 m3 CH4/t of manure digested.

Manure is an excellent basic substrate for co-digestion

of industrial waste, which could otherwise be difficult
to process alone.
high content of water acts as dispersing medium for dry highhigh
solids waste
high buffering capacity protects pH drop if VFA increases.
manure is rich in nutrients
nutrients.

Wastes containing higher concentration of lipids

produce
d
relatively
l i l higher
hi h quantity
i off gas.

Co digestion would be an appropriate approach for

Co-digestion
the treatment and disposal of manure along with
organic industrial wastes for obtaining higher gas
yield.
yield

SANITATION OF DIGESTATE

To avoid the risk of spreading pathogens, manure is

kept at a thermophilic temperature (> 50oC) for a
minimum of 4 hours.

Required sanitation can be obtained in thermophilic

p ocess b
process
by obse
observing
ing special pumping
p mping routines
o tines and in
a mesophilic process by providing a passive pre-orafter-sanitation stage.

Ensure an effective pathogen reduction especially for

utilising the digested material as manure.

PLANT CONFIGURATION

Transport / Pumping
Stirring / Mixing
Macerating / Grinding
Heat exchanging
Anae obic digestion
Anaerobic
Biogas treatment and cleaning
Biogas compression and transportation
Biogas storage
Filtration / Separation
p

DESIGN
HYDRAULIC DETENTION TIME

Hydraulic retention time affects the rate and the extent of

methane production.
Volatile solids content controls the rate and amount of gas
production.
Conversion of volatile solids to gaseous products is controlled
by hydraulic retention time.
Design of hydraulic detention time is function of amount of
volatile solids that has to be destructed to obtain maximum
gas production and the standards to be met for the safe
disposal of digested sludge.
sludge

SOLIDS CONTENT

Concentration of solids controls the solids loading to the digester

and the size of the digester.
Concentration of total solids affects the ability to mix the sludge
effectivity eliminate pockets of raw feed sludge and pockets of
sludge at different temperatures.
Pretreatment of the sludge may be required to maintain
consistency in the organic loading to the digester.
digester
Solids content of the feedstock dictates to a certain extent the
type of digester and particularly the ancillary equipment needed
to handle the feed.
Composition of solids makes a lot of difference to their handling
and flow properties.
Concentration of 50% of volatile solids in the digested sludge
usually is considered as satisfactory performance of the
anaerobic digestion process.
Digester for high solids feed can be operated at mesophilic or
thermophilic temperature.

MIXING

Methods of mixing
pumping of the digester contents
recirculating
gg
gas
mixing with mechanical device like agitators.

Advantages of mixing are

elimination of thermal stratification by maintaining physical and
chemical uniformity throughout the digesting sludge.
Maintaining intimate contact between active biomass and feed
sludge
Rapid dispersion of metabolic end products produced during
digestion to minimize inhibitory and toxic effects on the microbial
activity.
Prevention of the formation of scum layers and deposition of silt, grit
& other heavy inert solids on the bottom of the digester.
digester

Occasional mixing is beneficial, but regular intense mixing is detrimental

to the process.

DIGESTER GAS
DIGESTED
SLUDGE

HEAT
EXCHANGER

GRIT

MIXING WITH EXTERNAL PUMPS AND SCRAPPER

DIGESTER GAS
SCUM

DIGESTED
SLUDGE

MIXING LINES

HEAT
EXCHANGER

GRIT

MIXING BY EXTERNAL PUMPING

FOAM TRAP

COMPRESSOR

MIXING BY DIGESTER GAS INJECTION

ANGLO-SAXON SHAPE

EGG SHAPE

MIXING IN DIFFERENT TYPE OF DIGESTERS

SHAPE OF THE DIGESTER

Cylindrical,
y
, rectangular
g
or egg
gg shaped.
p
Most common height to diameter ratio nearly 1.0.
Rectangular shapes are less frequently used because
of greater difficulty in achieving the desired level of
mixing.
Cylindrical tanks have diameter of 6 m 38 m and
side water depth
p of 7.5 m 14 m or more.
Egg shaped design is to eliminate the need for
cleaning.
Sides form a cone so steep at the bottom and the grit
cannot accumulate.
Egg shaped design include better mixing, better
control
co
t o o
of scu
scum layer
aye and
a d smaller
s a e land
a d area
a ea
requirement.

ANGLO - AMERICAN
DESIGN

EGG SHAPED
DESIGN

CLASSICAL
DESIGN

EUROPEAN ((PLAIN))
DESIGN

DIGESTER SHAPES

TYPES OF DIGESTERS

Standard rate

High rate

Detention time of 30 60 days and loading rates of

0.5 1.6 kg/m3.d of volatile solids are recommended
for standard rate digester.

High
Hi
h rate
t digesters
di
t
loading
l di
rates
t off 1.6
1 6 4.8
4 8 kg/m
k / 3.d
d
of volatile solids and hydraulic detention periods of 10
to 20 days are practicable.

PRODUCTS OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION PROCESS

Biogas containing methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen

sulphide, ammonia, nitrogen, etc and innocuous
digested sludge solids.
solids
Specific gas production rates range from 0.75 0.9
m3/kg VS destroyed.
Methane content of the gas is 60 70% by volume
volume.
Biogas can be converted into thermal and/or electrical
energy.
Th
Thermal
l energy recovered
d can b
be used
d ffor preheating
h ti
the sludge and for maintaining the temperature in the
digester
Electrical energy is utilized for operating the plant and
machineries of the anaerobic digestion process.
Stabilized sludge may be dried and then disposed off
on land as a soil conditioner or disposed safely in the
secured landfill site.

RECYCLE OF FILTRATE/CENTRATE

Mixing with influent wastewater is common practice

in treatment plant design and operation.

Problems associated with the recycling of the return

flows include odour problems, possible sludge bulking,
increased chlorine demand, and higher concentration
of nutrients
nutrients, nitrogen and phosphate in the effluent.
effluent

Separate physical, chemical and biological treatment

may be considered before recycling the return flow to
the influent of the treatment facility.

ENGINEERING ASPECTS

Anaerobic digestion system consists of the following

three steps.
Pretreatment
Biological treatment
Post treatment

Variations in the choice of unit operations are often

dictated by local condition and needs primarily based
on physical and chemical properties of the solid
wastes.

Unit operations
p
required
q
for p
proper
p operation
p
of
anaerobic digestion plant

Pretreatment
source separation and collection
separation of elements included by mistake or
carelessness
Transfer of material to the process/plant

Feed preparation
Macerating/grinding
Stirring/mixing
Pumping
Heat exchanging

Anaerobic digestion plant

Feeding
Digestion and mixing
Biogas treatment/cleaning
Biogas transportation
Biogas storage

Energy recovery
Biogas utilization

Digester residue treatment

Sanitation
Filtration/separation
p

GRINDING

FEED PUMP

SHREDDER

MACERATOR

MIXING PUMP

HEAT EXCHANGER

SCUM BREAKING SYSTEM

SCUM BREAKING PUMP

GAS HOLDER

DIGESTER AND MEMBRANE GAS HOLDER

MEMBRANE GAS HOLDER

H2S SCRUBBER

DUAL FUEL ENGINE

GAS ENGINE

FILTER PRESS

SCREW PRESS

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTES

Wh is
What
i Municipal
M i i l Solid
S lid Waste
W
(MSW)?
The Minnesota Waste Management Act (Minn. Stat. 115A) defines municipal solid
waste as follows :
Subd.
S
bd 21
21. Mixed
Mi d municipal
i i l solid
lid waste.
t
(a) Mixed municipal solid waste means garbage, refuse and other
solid waste from residential, commercial, industrial and community
activities that the generator of the waste aggregates for collection,
except as provided in paragraph (b).
(b) Mixed municipal solid waste does not include auto hulks, street
sweepings, ash, construction debris, mining waste, sludges, tree and
agricultural wastes, tires, lead acid batteries, motor and vehicle fluids
and filters, and other materials collected, processed, and disposed
of as separate waste streams, but does include source-separated
compostable materials.
materials

STATUS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE

MANAGEMENT IN SELECTED METRO CITIES
City

Bangalore

Calcutta

Chennai

Delhi

Mumbai

226.16

187.33

174.00

1484.46

437.71

Population
(in millions)

5.31

6.00

5.00

12.20

12.50

MSW Generation
(Tonnes/day)

2200

3100

3050

6000

6000

MSW per capita

(Kg/day)

0.414

0.517

0.610

0.492

0.480

Area (Sq.Km)

Source: Central Pollution Control Board

COMPOSITION OF SOLID WASTES FROM CITIES

Cities

Characteristics
Non-Degradable

Degradable

Paper
p

Plastics

Metal

Glass

Ash & Earth

Calcuttta

3.18

0.65

0.66

0.38

34.00

47.00

Delhi

6.29

0.85

1.21

0.57

36.00

35.00

Nagpur

1.88

1.35

1.33

1.34

41.42

34.81

15.00

78.00

10

3.60

0.20

44.20

40.00

Bangalore
Mumbai

Source : Indias Development Report, 1997

ASSESSMENT OF ENERGY RECOVERY POTENTIAL

In thermo-chemical conversion all of the organic matter,

biodegradable as well as non-biogradable
Net power generation potential(kW)

14.4 x W

Total waste quantity

W tonnes

p
Assumption
NCV
WastetoWire Conversion Efficiency

=
=

1200 kcal/kg
25%

In bio-chemical conversion, only the biodegradable fraction of the

organic matter
Nett power generation
N
ti
potential
t ti l (kW) = 11.5
11 5 x W
Total waste quantity: W tonnes
Assumption
Total volatile solids
Organic biodegradable fraction
Digestion Efficiency
Typical biogas yield
CV of biogas
Energy conversion efficiency

=
=
=
=
=
=

50%
66% of VS
60%
0.8 m3/kg of VS destroyed
5000 kcal/m3
30%

100 tonnes of raw MSW with 50-60% organic matter can generate
about 1-1.5 MW power, depending upon the waste characteristics.

MSW TREATMENT & DISPOSAL TECHNOLOGIES

Sanitary Land Filling

Recovery and Recycling
Composting
Mechanical Composting
Bio-tech Composting
Vermiculture

Energy Recovery from MSW

Incineration
Anaerobic Digestion
Land fill gas
Fuel Pellets
Pyrolysis
Hydrolysis

SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGIES

Choice of technology has to be done judiciously.

Sanitary landfill is a good choice if sufficient land is available and
proper care is taken to treat the leachate collector from the
bottom of the landfill. Also the area near the landfill should be
kept aesthetically presentable.
Incineration has the advantage of 90% of volume reduction.
One has to be very careful to make sure that flue gas coming out
of the stack must not pollute the environment.
The gasification technology is relatively new and appears to be
suitable for the treatment of solid waste. Its performance in
terms of efficiency and environmental pollution control yet to be
ascertained.

Biomethanation is the most widely used technology all over

the world, more so in Europe. The main advantage is that it
is an environment-friendly and reliable technology. It cannot
treat non
non-biodegradable
biodegradable organic fractions.
Plasma arc is new and is yet to be commercially established.
No technology is perfect. All of them have merits and
demerits The choice of technology has to be made based on
demerits.
the waste quality and local conditions. Choose the
technology that fulfils
Lowest life cycle cost
Needs least land area
Causes practically no air and land pollution
Produces
d
more power with
i h lless waste
Causes maximum volume reduction

MAJOR FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED

FOR SELECTION OF TECHNOLOGY

Sorting / Segregation

Collection & Transportation

Treatment & Energy generation

Disposal

RECOMMENDATIONS

Conduct generator-based waste studies to identify

reduction and recycling opportunities at the point of
generation on case to case basis.
Methodology for sorting of waste at source and
transporting to appropriate waste management
system/sites is to be developed.
developed
Promoting waste abatement efforts such as waste
minimization awareness programme for MSW from
residential
id ti l and
d industrial
i d t i l sources.
Levying disposal costs to the waste generator to
reduce quantum of waste.

RECENT TREND

Promotion of MSW management projects by BOO

basis.
P j t is
Project
i run on their
th i own investment
i
t
t and
d they
th are
sure of techno-economic viability.
Promoter has to fulfill technical, legal, financial and
pollution control requirements.
Municipal corporations may opt for such promoters
who
h provides
id th
the technology
t h l
with
ith well
ll balanced
b l
d
compromise for healthy and quality environment.

TANNERY SOLID WASTES

PROJECT DETAILS

Capacity of the plant:

Volume of digester:

65 cum each
h

No. of digesters: Two

Digester loading rate:

5 Tons/day

578 kg VS/day

Design capacity

Biogas production:
312 cum/day
Methane
M th
gas production:
d ti
228 cum/day
Electrical energy generation:
28 kW

BIOMETHANATION PLANT FOR

CHROME SHAVINGS FROM TANNERY

CAPACITY OF THE PLANT:

2 TONNES/DAY

VOLUME OF DIGESTER:
PRIMARY: 50 CUM
SECONDARY: 170 CUM

NO OF DIGESTERS:
NO.

DIGESTER LOADING RATE:

TWO
690 KG COD/DAY

DESIGN CAPACITY

BIOGAS PRODUCTION:
165 CUM/DAY

ABATTOIR SOLID WASTES

BIOMETHANATION PLANT FOR SOLID

WASTES FROM ABATTOIR

CAPACITY OF THE PLANT:

VOLUME OF DIGESTER:

ONE

DIGESTER LOADING RATE:

2200 CUM

NO OF DIGESTERS:
NO.

60 TONNES/DAY

5732 KG VS/DAY

DESIGN CAPACITY

BIOGAS PRODUCTION:
2600 + 5% CUM/DAY

BIOMETHANATION PLANT FOR SOLID WASTES

FROM ABATTOIR

CAPACITY OF THE PLANT:

VOLUME OF DIGESTER:

ONE

DIGESTER LOADING RATE:

4000 CUM

NO. OF DIGESTERS:

52 TONNES/DAY

14000 KG VS/DAY

DESIGN CAPACITY
BIOGAS PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION:
5600 CUM/DAY
ELECTRICAL POWER
GENERATION: 470 kW

GAS HOLDER

BIOGAS ENGINE

VEGETABLE MARKET WASTE &

ABATTOIR WASTE

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DIGESTERS

Quantity:

16 TPD vegetable waste

TS = 18%, VS = 80%
4 TPD abattoir waste
TS = 20%,, VS = 90%

Technology:

Two stage UASB

Reactor volume:

Primary:

250 m3

Secondary:
y

1000 m3

HRT:

20 h with recirculation

GAS HOLDER AND H2S REMOVAL

Average gas:
production

1600 m3/d

Biogas:

50 60% CH4
30 40% CO2
0.5% H2S

Biogas yield:

80 m3/tonne of
waste

Specific
p
g
gas:
output

1.28 m3/
/m3.d

Specific gas:
production

0.65 m3/kg
VSdestroyed

GAS ENGINE HOUSING

Power generation: 125 kW

VEGETABLE MARKET WASTE

BIOMETHANATION PLANT FOR

VEGETABLE MARKET WASTE

Capacity of the Plant:

Volume of Digester:
g

One

Digester Loading Rate:

2650 cum

No. Of Digesters:

30 TPD

6200 Kg VS/day

Design Capacity

Biogas Production:
2625 cum/day
Electrical Energy
G
Generation:
ti
240 Kw
K

GRAB

BELT CONVEYOR

MAGNETIC SEPARATOR

SHREDDER

DIGESTER

GAS HOLDER

SPECIFIC INVESTMENT COSTS FOR

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION PLANTS
((1995 STUDY DATA))
Plant scale

Capital costs
($/mt of capacity/yr)
Range
Mean

Operations cost
($/mt/yr)
Range
Mean

Small

450 950

625

90 135

110

Medium

325 625

505

75 125

90

Large

248 550

400

50 100

70

CAPITAL INVESTMENT
Name of the project

Capacity

Cost in Indian
Rupees

Cost in US
Dollar
equivalent

Cost
USD/mt
/yr

Energy
recovered

Tannery solid wastes

Fleshing and primary
sludge
l d

5 MT

Rs.158 lakhs

USD 0.4 million

200

Electrical

Tannery solid wastes

Chrome shavings

2 MT

Rs.86.5 lakhs

USD 0.2 million

270

Thermal

Abattoir Solid wastes

60 MT

Rs.320 lakhs +
USD 173,760

USD 0.75 million

34

Thermal

Abattoir Solid wastes

52 MT

Rs.325 lakhs +
USD 656,000

USD 1.4 million

73

Electrical

Vegetable market
waste & abattoir waste

16 MT
vegetable +
4 MT abattoir

Rs.303.45
Rs
303 45
lakhs

USD 0
0.7
7 million

95

Electrical

Vegetable market
waste

30 MT

Rs.352 lakhs +
USD 320,000

USD 1.0 million

91

Electrical

Th k You!
Thank
Y !