Enhancing anaerobic hydrolysis of cattle manure in leachbed reactors

In this study, it is hypothesized that anaerobic hydrolysis of organic solid wastes (OSWs) in leachbed reactors can be enhanced by two approaches: (1) by increasing the porosity of the leachbed; and (2) by seeding the bed with brown-rot fungi or anaerobically digested residues. The hypothesis is verified using cattle manure as a model OSW and pistachios-half-shell as an inert additive to increase the porosity of the leachbed. The enhancement was quantified in terms of volatile fatty acid (VFA) generation and soluble COD generation. Results of this study showed that 15% more VFAs and 8% more soluble COD can be obtained at higher bed porosities and with brown-rot fungi or digested residues as the seed. Compared to a leachbed without any recirculation, porosity enhancement, nor seed addition, the VFA yield (g VFA/g manure) in a leachbed with pistachios-half-shell as porosity enhancers was 193% higher; that in a leachbed with leachate recirculation (of 4 L/day), pistachios-half-shell as porosity enhancers, and brown-rot fungi or digested sludge as seed was 230% higher.