Effects of feedstock ratio and organic loading rate on the anaerobic mesophilic co-digestion of rice straw and cow manure

•The optimal ratio of rice straw to cow manure was 1:1 based on volatile solids.•Stable biogas production was obtained at an organic loading rate of 3–6 kg VS/(m3 d).•The overloaded system was inhibited by volatile fatty acids rather than ammonia.•The recommended organic loading rate for the co-digestion is 6 kg VS/(m3 d).•Digestion system foaming was observed at an organic loading rate ⩾8 kg VS/(m3 d).

In order to investigate the effects of feedstock ratio and organic loading rate (OLR) on the anaerobic mesophilic co-digestion of rice straw (RS) and cow manure (CM), batch tests (2.5 L) were carried out at volatile solid (VS) ratios of 0:1, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, and 1:0 (RS/CM), and continuous bench experiments (40 L) were carried out at OLRs of 3.0, 3.6, 4.2, 4.8, 6.0, 8.0, and 12.0 kg VS/(m3 d) with optimal VS ratio. The optimal VS ratio was found to be 1:1. Stable and efficient co-digestion with average specific biogas production of 383.5 L/kg VS and volumetric biogas production rate of 2.30 m3/(m3 d) was obtained at an OLR of 6 kg VS/(m3 d). Anaerobic co-digestion was severely inhibited by the accumulation of volatile fatty acids instead of ammonia when the OLR was 12 kg VS/(m3 d). Further, significant foaming was observed at OLR ⩾ 8 kg VS/(m3 d).

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide