Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 81 (2018) 2328–2334

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Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

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Analysis of the biogas productivity from dry anaerobic digestion of organic MARK
fraction of municipal solid waste
⁎
Anthony Njuguna Matheri, Vuiswa Lucia Sethunya, Mohamed Belaid , Edison Muzenda
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa

A R T I C L E I N F O A BS T RAC T

Keywords: In this study, it was observed that in experimental work under laboratory scale using conventional biomethane
BMP potential (BMP) analyser under the mesophilic optimum temperature of 37 °C and pH of 7. Organic fraction
Biodegradable municipality solid waste (OFMSW) inoculated with cow manure had higher biodegradability rate leading to high
Co-digestion methane production under shorter hydraulic retention rate. The co-digestion of OFMSW and cow manure
Mesophilic temperature
stabilises conditions in digestion process such as carbon to nitrogen (C: N) ratio in the substrate mixtures as
OFMSW
Renewable energy
well as macro and micronutrients, pH, inhibitors or toxic compounds, dry matter and thus increasing methane
production. It was concluded that the organic waste generated in the municipality co-digested with manures to
produce methane can be used as a source of sustainable renewable energy.

1. Introduction 1.1. Biogas

Many African nations have been motivated to look for sustainable Biogas is the by-product from the anaerobic digestion (AD) process
renewable energy sources such as; hydropower, wind energy, solar power, of biomass and is used as a clean fuel. Biogas products play a major role
biomass energy, geothermal power, tidal power as well as wave power, to in the biogeochemical carbon cycle. Biogas is a mixture of approxi-
solve the problem of the extinction of fossil fuels and the need for green mately 60% methane, 39% carbon dioxide and a small fraction of 1% as
and clean energy [1]. Biomass energy is one of the renewable energy the water vapour, hydrogen sulphide and some other gases by volume.
sources that has gained momentum because of its environmentally friendly When it is purified to over 99% methane it becomes identical to a
aspect [2]. In addition to the carbon dioxide pollution from fossil fuels, the natural gas known to be bio-methane [7]. Bio-methane like biogas is
world is also faced with a waste pollution in the form of leftover food, used to generate heat using boilers, for lighting households, cooking
which is proven also to be one of the contributing factors to global and as fuel for vehicles. The compositions of biogas are outlined in
warming [3]. As research develops the solutions to handle all waste Table 1 [7].
management issues have been addressed as some of them include Biomethane potential tests (BMP) are done to determine the
pyrolysis, gasification and incineration of solid waste [4]. The difference amount of biogas or biomethane per gram of volatile solids (VS)
between pyrolysis and gasification is the degree of air/oxygen present for contained in the substrate used in the AD process. The tests are used
combustion. While incineration can be done in the presences of oxygen. for many other properties such as the process operational conditions
The heated waste material will create gas, liquid and solid deposits [4]. that have to be monitored to avoid process malfunctions, environ-
Though these technologies offer a practical approach to managing waste, mental considerations, the time it will take for a substrate to degrade
they have been found to require a great deal of energy to operate, and some and the average bio-methanation for each substrate examined and
consume more energy to operate than the energy that can be produced integrated into the biogas production process [7].
from them [4]. The use of biogas has proven to be an effective way to use
renewable energy sources and reduce these greenhouse gases [5,6]. 1.2. Anaerobic digestion
The main objective of this study was the analysis of the production
of methane from dry fermentation of organic fraction of municipal AD is one of the alternative renewable energy technologies which
solid waste (OFMSW) on the bio – methane potential (BMP). To has proven to be the acceptable option among most of these waste
analysis biogas production of this substrate, the focus was given at management's technologies. AD is a biochemical process where organic
optimum temperature and pH level. matter is decomposed in the absence of oxygen by various types of

⁎
Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: [email protected] (A.N. Matheri), [email protected] (V.L. Sethunya), [email protected] (M. Belaid), [email protected] (E. Muzenda).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.06.041
Received 9 March 2016; Received in revised form 18 May 2017; Accepted 16 June 2017
Available online 29 June 2017
1364-0321/ © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A.N. Matheri et al. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 81 (2018) 2328–2334

Table 1
Percentage of gases by volume present in biogas.

Biogas Composition Percentage (%)

Methane (CH4) 50–70

Carbon dioxide (CO2) 30–45
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) 1–2
Hydrogen (H2) 1–2
Ammonia (NH3) 1–2
Carbon monoxide (CO) trace
Nitrogen (N2) trace
Oxygen (O2) trace

Fig. 2. Trend of low and high solid anaerobic digestion plants in Europe [12].

1.2.1. Wet anaerobic digestion (WAD)

Wet digestion requires water greater or equal to the biomass being
processed while in the dry digestion process, the biomass or feedstock
is digested as received [10]. Wet anaerobic digestion (WDA) process is
an effective process yet it has a water wasting problem which should be
avoided since water is one of the scarce resources that can run out.
Also, the percentage of water in the digested feedstock will need to be
dried. This requires a lot of energy and nutrients are also lost in the
process [11]. Contrarily, dry anaerobic digestion has proven to be
better for wet digestion due to its versatility, robustness and better
water management strategies as shown in Fig. 2 [12]. In this current
study, the focus is on dry anaerobic digestion.

1.2.2. Dry anaerobic digestion (DAD)

The dry anaerobic digestion process is an energy and water saving
process. It does not require an addition of a lot of water to the
substrate, meaning that it does not require dewatering and energy used
to dry the digestate [13]. The dry anaerobic digestion process takes
place within bioreactors, which are batch processes operating inde-
pendently, hence the malfunctioning of a reactor do not affect the
functionality of the others. Unlike wet digestion process, the substrate
in dry fermentation does not need stirring or being pumped through
pipes which sometimes experiences blockage [13].
Fig. 1. Type of feedstock for anaerobic digestion [7,9].
DAD process is been given much attention in the energy sector and
research based environments for laboratory scale studies because of its
anaerobic micro-organisms [7]. The rate at which this process take low operation cost and potential by- products. However, despite all its
place in the production of biogas depends on a number of parameters advantages, the process may show inhabitation problems which are due
that include, pH, temperature, nature of the substrate used, nutrients, to the requirement of large inoculums, long retention time, accumula-
digester construction and size [7,8]. AD uses a wide range of biomass tion of VFA and the type of water material used [14]. Therefore, for a
as feedstock/substrates for the production of biogas. The type of development of a suitable DAD process various aspects of the process,
feedstock or substrate that is mostly used can be animal manure, operational parameters, environmental impacts of the process, eco-
agriculture waste, garden waste, market vegetable waste, slaughter nomic analysis, mass balance and energy flow needs to be monitored
houses or abattoir waste, sewage sludge, a mixed organic fraction of carefully [15]. Fig. 3 shows the mains steps that are undertaken in a
municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and other commercial and industrial DAD process for the production of biogas.
organic waste. Fig. 1 shows the classification of feedstock used for the Biogas production undergoes four distinct chemical and biological
AD from different sources. Feedstock for AD varies according to its processes. These processes do not differ in either wet or a dry digestion
composition, homogeneity, fluid dynamics, dry matter content, process and they include hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and
methane yield and biodegradability [7]. methanogenesis. The major functional groups of bacteria according to
The pathways for anaerobic digestion are either wet or dry digestion their metabolic (activity) reactions are [17,18]: Fermentative, hydro-
depending on the need for the fluidity of the substrate. The definition of gen‐producing acetogenic, hydrogen‐consuming acetogenic, carbon
both wet and dry anaerobic digestion are defined as followed: dioxide reducing methanogens and aceticlastic methanogens bacteria

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Fig. 3. Main steps of dry anaerobic digestion process [3,11,16].

are the four major functional groups of bacteria in metabolic reaction 1.3.1. Temperature
activity in anaerobic digestion [11,16]. Methane is formed over a wide range of temperatures from low
Hydrolysis is theoretically the first step of anaerobic digestion, temperature to high temperature though not over 65 °C. The three
during which the complex organic matter (polymers) are decomposed different temperature ranges for methane formation can be defined by
into smaller units (mono- and oligomers). During hydrolysis, the long- the microbial activity as given below [27]:
chain molecules, such as carbohydrate, protein and fat polymers, are
broken down to monomers (small molecules). Different specialised • Psychrophilic temperature from 10 °C to 20 °C
microbial produce a number of specific enzymes which catalyse the • Mesophilic temperature from 20 °C to 40 °C, or transition tempera-
decomposition, and the process is extracellular. During hydrolysis, ture of 35 °C and 37 °C
polymers like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids are • Thermophilic temperature from 50 °C to 65 °C, usually 55 °C.
converted into glucose, glycerol, purines and pyridines [19].
In the acidogenesis process, the acidogenic bacteria transform the Psychrophilic digesters were mostly used in the 1980s when biogas
products of the hydrolysis into short chain volatile acids, alcohol, was used for heating purposes. At that time, at 23 °C the average
ketones, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Some of the major acidogenesis heating production was higher than that of mesophilic digesters [28].
stage products are acetic acid, propionic acid, formic acid, butyric acid, In history, no anaerobic psychrophilic bacteria has been found at
lactic acid, ethanol and methanol. From these products, the carbon temperatures below 20 °C because under these conditions the psychro-
dioxide, hydrogen and acetic acid skip the third stage, acetogenesis, philic anaerobic digestion was not feasible, had low microbial activity
and be utilized directly by the methanogenic bacteria in the final stage and biogas production [29].
to produce biogas; methane and carbon dioxide [20–22]. In recent years mesophilic digesters are the most popular. The
temperature of digesters depends mostly on the feedstock composition
and the type of reactor, but it has been observed from literature that for
maximum gas production rate, the temperature should be maintained
1.3. Conditions for the anaerobic digestion at an approximately constant level [30]. A number of mesophilic and
thermophilic anaerobic bacteria are described in the temperature
The rate of biogas production depends on a number of conditions ranges between 28 °C and 42 °C and between 55 °C and 72 °C
(parameters) that include; hydraulic retention time (HRT), tempera- respectively. It has also been found that the thermophilic digesters
ture, trace metals, C/N ratio, organic loading rate, partial pressure, pH have lower retention time that is due to the high catalytic activity of
level, nature of the substrate, microbes balance, and oxygen exposure thermophiles [30].
to anaerobic [23–26].

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highest and will not occur at low pH [40].

1.3.4. Retention time

Retention time (RT) is the time required for the complete degrada-
tion of the organic material to occur. It is defined as:
Liquid Volume
RT =
DailyFlow (1)
The RT completion of the anaerobic digestion reaction differs with
process parameters such as waste composition and temperature. The
RT for a biomass digestion in mesophilic conditions varies from 10 to
40 days. However, RT in thermophilic conditions is lower than that of
mesophilic. A high solids reactor operating under thermophilic ranges
has a retention time of about 14 days. RT is directly proportional to the
degradation rate, the lower the degradation rate, the shorter the RT
Fig. 4. Graphical representation of temperature range in anaerobic digestion [32]. [35]. Schaefer and Sung [41] studied a thin corn silage (94 gTCOD/L
and 61 gTS/L) in a digester that was completely mixed at different
Thermophiles are said to provide additional benefits in terms of low hydraulic retention time (HRT) i.e., 30, 20, 15, and 12 days also at
contamination [30]. The experimental work done by the University of different volumetric organic loading rates (OLRs) of 3.2, 6.1, 6.4 and
Alaska Fairbanks shows that a 1000 L digester using psychrophilic 7.6 g TCOD/L-Day, respectively. At steady state, the HRT results were
temperatures produces 200–300 L of methane per day from the found to be 30, 20 and 15 days, but the reactors were then found to be
digesters in warmer climates [31]. Thermophilic digestion systems inactive after 12 days giving total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) of 7 g/L.
are considered to be less stable while the energy input is much higher, Average RT for mesophilic digestion was then found to be 12–18 days
so more biogas is removed from organic matter in an equal amount of [11].
time. The higher the temperature, the faster the reaction and the faster
the gas yields in anaerobic digestion [32]. Fig. 4 shows the temperature 1.3.5. Organic loading rate
range in the process of anaerobic digestion. Organic loading rate (OLR) is the capacity of AD system for the
biological conversion or the feed amount of organic material, expressed
1.3.2. Carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio) as carbon oxygen demand (COD) or volatile solids (VS) to the system
C/N ratio represents the relationship between the amount of carbon daily per m3 of the digester volume. OLR can be expressed as:
and nitrogen in the organic materials. Fricke reported that the
DailyflowxVSconcentration
optimum C/N ratio for anaerobic digestion is said to be in a range of OLR =
Liquid Volume (2)
20–30 [32,33]. In situations where C/N ratio happens to be higher
than 25, the methanogens consume nitrogen rapidly, which results in Gas production in an AD system is dependent on the OLR. When
lower gas yields, and a lower C/N ratio will cause ammonia accumula- the feeding capacity in the system exceed the OLR, the gas production
tion and pH being greater than 8.5, which results in a toxic methano- decreases [42]. This is due to accumulation of fatty acids in the digester
genic bacteria [33]. Optimal C/N ratio is a function of the type of slurry. Thus, OLR is one of the most important controlling parameters
feedstock and may vary with the type of feedstock used. C/N ratio can in the continuous system because if not carefully monitored, the system
be maintained at the required or acceptable range by mixing ratios of faces overloading and the system fails to function properly [43]. With
high and low C/N ratios. C/N ratio ranging from 22 to 25 is most regard to content, AD is classified into three categories which are: low
suitable for anaerobic digestion of fruits and vegetable waste [34]. solids (LS) AD system that is less than 15% TS, medium solids (MS)
Romano and Zhang in a research paper written by Norberg [35] processes which are about 15–20% TS, high solids (HS) processes at
suggested that the optimal C/N ratio of onion juice and digested sludge 20–24% TS range [44]. Fernandez et al. [29] optimised OLR for
should be maintained at 15 [33,35]. Li et al., [36] studied DAD of mesophilic systems and found that values for OLD to be 2.5–3.5 kgVS/
organic wastes and found C/N ratio between 15 and 18 when corn m3- day for cattle manure, 5–7 kgVS/m3-day for cattle manure with co-
stover was inoculated with digested sewage sludge. Digestion rate substances and 3–3.5 kgVS/m3-day for pig manure [11].
decreased when C/N ratio increased to 21 or higher due to low pH in
the first 7 days at 37 °C [33]. Thus pH has an effect on the digester rate 2. Methodology
and the C/N ratio.
2.1. Substrate collection
1.3.3. pH level
The pH value is a measurement of acid or basic concentration in The main objective of this study was to evaluate the bio-methane
aqueous substances, i.e., the concentration of hydrogen ions in solu- potential from the dry fermentation of organic fraction of municipal
tion. Anaerobic bacteria, e.g. the methanogens are sensitive to acid solid waste (OFMSW) using cow manure for inoculation under con-
concentrations and their growth can be lowered if the digester system is trolled experimental conditions. The substrate was quantified and
acidic [33]. Lee et al. [37] show that they have optimised the pH value characterised before the onset of production. Fig. 5 shows a summary
in AD systems and it was found that the pH value for methanogenesis flow diagram of the feedstock or substrate quantification.
was around 7, but the pH value differed in all the AD stages. Lee et al. The food waste collected was sorted in weekly basis according to the
[38] found that the optimal pH range for methanogens in AD to be 6.5 following categories: starch, carbohydrates, protein, vegetables and
– 8.2, while Kim et al. [39] reported a pH value at 5.5 6.5 for hydrolysis fruits. The characterised food waste was weighed on a mass scale and
and acidogenesis. The pH of a digestate varies with retention time, but the masses of the various food waste samples were then recorded.
the initial step, acetogenesis process in a batch reactor occurs at a rapid Waste characterization was done to ascertain the composition. These
pace and in the acidogenesis process acid is produced since it is lower included physical and chemical composition with regards to C/N ratio,
in the digestion tank. It is important to constantly measure the pH to volatile solids, total solids and elemental analysis for carbon, nitrogen,
ensure the well-being of methanogens so that methane can be sulphur and hydrogen in accordance with the standard method (APHA
produced. Methane has been observed to occur when the pH is at its 1995) [45].

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Table 2A
Substrate characterization for the anaerobic digestion.

Substrate C (%) H (%) N (%) S (%)

Vegetables and Fats 24.18 1.04 3.28 0.00

Fruits and Proteins 22.77 1.96 2.53 0.00
Starch and Fibres 32.93 1.12 2.99 0.00
Cow manure 14.87 1.65 0.84 0.00

Table 2B
Substrate characterization for the anaerobic digestion.

Substrate MC (%) TS (%) VS (%) C/N Ratio

Vegetables and Fats 63.72 30.27 76.16 7.37

Fruits and Proteins 70.40 29.02 80.67 9.00
Starch and Fibres 60.01 37.00 71.24 11.02
Cow manure 60.01 91.55 78.72 17.70
Fig. 5. Flow diagram of the feedstock quantification.
where; C – carbon, N – nitrogen, H – hydrogen, S – sulphur, MC- moisture content, TS –
2.2. Experimental procedure total solids, VS – volatile solids and C/N – carbon-nitrogen ratio.

The experiment was run at mesophilic temperature 37 °C and pH of where; Mdried = Amount dried sample (mg), Mwet = Amount of wet
7 under controlled 500 ml digester. The amount of biogas produced sample (mg) and Mburned = Amount of burned sample (mg).
was measured using water displacement method. Biogas was analysed
using gas chromatograph containing flame-ionization detector. The C (F *CF ) + (S*Sf )
=
operating conditions of oven temperature were 70 °C, detector 150 °C, N (F *Nf ) + (F *Nf ) (6)
injection port 80 °C and helium was used as carrier gas at flow rates of
20 ml/min. Fig. 6 shows the biomethane potential set up. where; F = first substrate, S = second substrate, Cf = carbon composi-
tion for the first substrate, Cs = carbon composition for the second
substrate, Nf = nitrogen composition for the first substrate and Ns =
3. Results and discussion nitrogen composition for the second substrate.
From the characterised study of the food waste. It was found that
The purpose of this experiment was to determine methane produc- the fruits and proteins (FP) had low solids content (29.02% TS) due to
tion in the dry anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal the fact that greater portion of the sample contained fruits with high
solid waste (OFMSW) inoculated with cow manure at the mesophilic moisture content whereas the sample containing starch and fibres (SF)
optimum temperature (37 °C) and initial pH of 7 using water displace- contained a high concentration of solids (37% TS). Volatile solids
ment method and Bio-Methane Potential (BMP) analyser. Tables 2A, represented an organic matter of the feedstock without considering the
2B shows the substrate characterization. inorganic salts and ash. Total solids percentage represented organic
TS is the sum of dissolved solids and suspended solids. TS and pH and inorganic material in the feedstock. The proportion of volatile
are the important parameters to assess anaerobic digestion process solids in total solids was much higher in the fruits and protein sample
efficiency [14,21]. VS is the organic portion of TS that biodegrade in the (80.67%) compared to the samples containing starch and fibre
anaerobic process. C/N ratio is an important factor in bacteria stability (71.24%) as well as vegetable and fats (76.16%). The average moisture
in the anaerobic process [46,47]. TS, VS and MC are calculated using content (MC) of all the three samples was found to be 63.72%, 70.40%
Eqs. (3)–(5) respectively while C/N ratio is calculated using Eq. (6). and 60.01% respectively. A high moisture content percentage favoured
Mdried − Mburned optimum biogas production since it allows bacteria to release methane
VS (%) = *100 and metabolic processes to occur. Hence moisture content was
Mwet (3)
significant for optimal digestion as it aids the digestion process to
Mdried yield high-quality biogas rich in methane (CH4). Zhu et al. [34]
TS (%) = *100
Mwet (4) reported that substrates with MC of 75% such as food and yard waste
are suited for digestion. It was also recommended by Abbasi et al. [48]
Mwet − Mdried that the MC for optimum conditions to be 90%. It was also stated that
MC (%) = *100
Mwet (5) the wetter the material, the more volume and area it takes up relative to
the levels of gas production, but we can observe that the values
obtained from this current study were within the dry digestion range.
The carbon and nitrogen (C/N) ratio for the three samples was
found to be 7.37, 9 and 11.01. From these results, it was found that the
carbon ratios were too low compared to the study carried by
Sreekrishnan et al., [49] that shows, the best anaerobic digestion range
should be between 16 to 30 C/N ratios for food waste. Substrates with
low C/N ratio was most likely result in ammonia accumulation and
volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the digester, which could hinder the
methanogenic activity and system failure [49]. From the results
summarized in Table 2B, it was comprehended that maintaining of
proper composition of the substrate was necessary. The higher carbon
content in the system gave more carbon dioxide formation and lower
pH value which was also a factor that needed to be maintained and
Fig. 6. BMP test experimental setup. controlled according to Dioha et al. [50]. When the levels of C/N ratio

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Fig. 7. Methane yield of OFMSW from BMP analyser in hours.

was high, this suggested higher depletion of nitrogen used by the toxic to non-toxic forms of compounds such as ammonia. Li et al., [54]
methanogenic bacteria that produces methane to satisfy their protein suggests that ammonia accumulation of the system hinders the
needs, therefore, resulting in lower biogas production rate. production of methane as well as causing system failure [54,55]. The
To operate an anaerobic digester at optimum C/N ratio, biodegrad- problem of pH causing ammonia accumulation was addressed by
able material of high C/N ratio was blended with the biodegradable adding another substrate to the system (co-digestion). OFMSW are
material of low C/N ratio. This enhanced the optimum conditions of C/ rich in substrate essential for bacteria to grow and produce high-quality
N ratio to be within 15–30:1 [46]. methane. Using gas chromatography (GC) to analysis the biogas
It was observed from Fig. 7 that methane production increases with production before carbon dioxide fixing or absorption, the composition
retention time increases. Hence, it can be stated that there was a of the biogas was found as follows; fats and vegetables 70% CH4 and
directly proportional relationship between retention time and methane 30% CO2, starch and fibre 70% CH4 and 30% CO2 and lastly fruits and
production. Fig. 7 illustrates methane yield of OFMSW from BMP proteins had biogas consisting of 60% CH4 and 40% CO2.
analyser in hours. There was an absence of lag phase due to presence
and balance of active microbial for digestion supplied by the inoculate.
The peak methane production of the vegetables and fats sample 4. Conclusion
(249.6 Nml) was achieved up to 130 h (5 days) demonstrating the
maximum degree of methane formation out of all the three samples. It was concluded that in experimental work under laboratory scale
Samples containing fruits & proteins as well as starch and fibres had using conventional biochemical methane potential and had optimum
methane volumes of about 219.7 Nml and 128.5 Nml respectively and methane yield after retention time in hours. Co-digestion of OFMSW
were achieved within 48 h before the samples stopped producing any and cow manure stabilises conditions in anaerobic digestion process
gases. From the sample of vegetables and fats, it was observed that the such as C: N ratio in the substrate mixtures as well as macro and
maximum methane production was achieved in a shorter time because micronutrients, pH, inhibitors or toxic compounds and dry matter.
of the availability of agitation on the system since maximum methane is Although BMP results only showed methane production in hours
achieved as agitation rate increases thus indicating the effective because of the small loading rate, these results reinforce the validity
influence of the agitation rate on the overall conversion [51]. The of OFMSW as a strong candidate for use in dry anaerobic digestion. It
substrate time and the microbial balance in the system also places a was then concluded that OFMSW was indeed a better feedstock to be
role in the maximum production of methane at a shorter retention used in dry anaerobic digestion and should be co-digested with a
time. High biodegradability matters produce methane at a faster rate secondary substrate to minimise ammonia accumulation and sample
and afterwards ease production. The pH changes during anaerobic acidity.
fermentation were due to the accumulation of volatile fatty acids
(VFA's) by acidogenic bacteria, the pH value for sample 1, samples 2 Acknowledgement
and sample 3 were initially at 7.2, 6.99 and 6.98 respectively in the
start-up of the run. Since the digestible compounds of organic matters The authors wishes to express their appreciation to Process Energy
were hydrolysed and converted into fatty acids quickly, the pH began to Environmental and Technology Station (PEETS) funded by South
decrease gradually to a higher pH value which can be observed to be Africa National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), Technology
the reason why the two sample only produced methane in the two days Innovation Agency (TIA) and City of Johannesburg (CoJ/UJ/WTE/
[52]. The acidogenic bacteria population increases more than the FS003) (CoJ, Green Economy), Chemical Engineering and Applied
appropriate ratio required, these created an excess accumulation of Chemistry Departments at the University of Johannesburg for allowing
acids medium inside the digester. Thus increasing acidity and even- us to work in their laboratories. Dr Robert Huberts, Prof Jane
tually decreasing pH, causing deactivation of methanogens and so the Catherine Ngila, Dr Tumisang Seodigeng, Dr Ludger Eltrop and Prof
digestion process [53]. The pH had an influence on the equilibrium of Shivani Mishra for consultancy.

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