Anaerobic co-digestion of cattle manure and meadow grass: Effect of serial configurations of continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs)

In this study, anaerobic co-digestion of cattle manure (CM) and meadow grass (MG) with serial configurations of continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) was investigated. Four laboratory-scale CSTRs were operated at thermophilic condition (55 °C), of which two CSTRs were connected serially with equal working volumes while the remaining two CSTRs were operated as single CSTRs as controls. Improvements on bio-methane yield, methane contents and solids reduction were observed with serial CSTR configurations. The results showed that co-digestion with 5% (w/w) MG with serial configurations of CSTRs produced 24% more bio-methane compared with single reactor, with the total hydraulic retention time (HRT) being the same. The volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration was found higher in the 1st reactor, but was reduced by 40-50% in the 2nd reactor. The improved bio-methane yield with serial CSTR configuration with 100% CM was 8%, indicating that the serial CSTRs process is superior in a co-digestion set up with addition of MG.