Biomass adaptation over anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge and trapped grease waste

The feasibility of sewage sludge co-digestion using intermediate waste generated inside a wastewater treatment plant, i.e. trapped grease waste from the dissolved air flotation unit, has been assessed in a continuous stirred lab reactor operating at 35 °C with a hydraulic retention time of 20 days. Three different periods of co-digestion were carried out as the grease waste dose was increased. When the grease waste addition was 23% of the volatile solids fed (organic loading rate 3.0 kgCOD m−3 d−1), an increase in methane yield of 138% was reported. Specific activity tests suggested that anaerobic biomass had adapted to the co-substrate. The adapted inoculum showed higher acetoclastic methanogenic and β-oxidation synthrophic acetogenic activities but lower hydrogenotrophic methanogenic activity. The results indicate that a slow increase in the grease waste dose could be a strategy that favours biomass acclimation to fat-rich co-substrate, increases long chain fatty acid degradation and reduces the latter’s inhibitory effect.

► Trapped grease waste is a suitable co-substrate to sewage sludge anaerobic digestion. ► Co-digestion of SS and GW increases biogas production more than two times. ► Specific activity test are a good tool to understand biomass adaptation process. ► Acclimatization of biomass brought about by slowly increasing the grease waste dose. ► SS and GW co-digestion improves the overall WWTP management.