Effect of Substrate Characteristics and Process Fluid Percolation on Dry Anaerobic Digestion Processes

The dry anaerobic batch digestion process is an organic waste treatment technology most appropriate for the treatment of stackable (non-free-flowing) dry organic waste materials. The effect of the process fluid percolation and substrate permeability on methane production of organic household waste was investigated in anaerobic dry digestion trials at pilot scale. The container system consisted of two percolation digesters and a fixed-bed methane digester. The experimental results indicate that material compaction occurs during the digestion process and can have a negative effect on substrate permeability. Structure material addition reduced material compaction and as a result increased the substrate permeability.