Effects of exogenous aerobic bacteria on methane production and biodegradation of municipal solid waste in bioreactors

• EABM enhanced hydrolysis and acidogenesis processes of MSW degradation.
• Exogenous aerobic bacteria increased methane production of MSW in bioreactors.
• The addition of WRF enhanced methane production through highly decomposing lignin.

Landfill is the most common and efficient ways of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal and the landfill biogas, mostly methane, is currently utilized to generate electricity and heat. The aim of this work is to study the effects and the role of exogenous aerobic bacteria mixture (EABM) on methane production and biodegradation of MSW in bioreactors. The results showed that the addition of EABM could effectively enhance hydrolysis and acidogenesis processes of MSW degradation, resulting in 63.95% reduction of volatile solid (VS), the highest methane production rate (89.83 L kg−1 organic matter) ever recorded and a threefold increase in accumulative methane production (362.9 L) than the control (127.1 L). In addition, it is demonstrated that white-rot fungi (WRF) might further promote the methane production through highly decomposing lignin, but the lower pH value in leachate and longer acidogenesis duration may cause methane production reduced. The data demonstrated that methane production and biodegradation of MSW in bioreactors could be significantly enhanced by EABM via enhanced hydrolysis and acidogenesis processes, and the results are of great economic importance for the future design and management of landfill.