What is Anaerobic Digestion?

The use of microbes in the absence of oxygen for the stabilization of organic material by conversion to methane, carbon dioxide, new biomass and inorganic products. This process is used to treat waste water of high COD concentration.

Introduction
Anaerobic digestion consists of a series of microbiological processes that convert organic compounds to methane and carbon dioxide, and reduce the volatile solids by 35 percent to 60 percent, depending on the operating conditions Anaerobic digestion has long been used for the stabilization of wastewater sludges

Stages involved:
STAGE1 STAGE2 STAGE3

Raw materials
Farm Waste Sewage and sewage sludges Breweries and distillery waste Vegetable and Energy Crops Solid waste meat and slaughter house waste Pure and mix substrates

Reasons for using Anaerobic Treatment

Higher loadind rates Lower power Requirement Useful end products Organic matter stabilisation Lowering of water Activity Easier handling of Sludge Low levels of microbial growth

Essential conditions for efficient anaerobic treatment

Avoid excessive air/O2 exposure No toxic/inhibitory compounds present in the influent Maintain pH between 6.8 7.2 Sufficient alkalinity present (mainly bicarbonates)

Low volatile fatty acids (VFAs)

Temperature around mesophilic range (30-38 oC) Enough nutrients (N & P) and trace metals especially, Fe, Co, Ni, etc.

PROCESS DESCRIPTION
1.Single-Stage Digestion Anaerobic digesters are large fermentation tanks provided with mechanical mixing, heating, gas collection, sludge addition and withdrawal, and supernatant outlet. Sludge digestion and settling occur simultaneously. in the tank. Sludge stratifies and forms several layers from the bottom to the top of the tank: digested sludge, actively digesting sludge, supernatant, a scum layer, and gas. Higher sludge loading rates are achieved in the highrate version where sludge is continuously mixed and heated

2.Two-Stage Digestion This process consists of two digester one tank is continuously mixed and heated for sludge stabilization and the other one for thickening and storage prior to withdrawal and ultimate disposal. Although conventional high-rate anaerobic digestion and two-stage anaerobic digestion achieve comparable methane yield and COD stabilization efficiency, the latter process allows operation at much higher loading rates and shorter hydraulic retention times.

Organisms involved
Complex process of anaerobic digestion involves succession of microbial activity. more than one type of organisms having special role and metabolic activity. 1.Hydrolytic Bacteria 2.Fermentative Acidogenic Bacteria 3.Acetogenic bacteria 4. Methanogens

Group 1: Hydrolytic Bacteria

Consortia of anaerobic bacteria break down complex organic molecules (e.g., proteins, cellulose, lignin, lipids) Hydrolysis of the complex molecules is catalyzed by extracellular enzymes such as cellulases, proteases, and lipases. However, the hydrolytic phase is relatively slow and can be limiting in anaerobic digestion of wastes such as raw cellulolytic wastes that contain lignin

Group 2: Fermentative Acidogenic Bacteria

Acidogenic (i.e., acid-forming) bacteria (e.g., Clostridium) convert sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids to organic acids alcohols and ketones Acetate is the main product of carbohydrate fermentation. The products formed vary with the bacterial type as well as with culture conditions.

Group 3: Acetogenic Bacteria

Acetogenic bacteria (acetate and H2-producing bacteria) such as Syntrobacter wolinii and Syntrophomonas wolfei convert fatty acids (e.g., propionic acid, butyric acid) and alcohols into acetate, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide, which are used by the methanogens. This group requires low hydrogen tensions for fatty acid conversion, necessitating a close monitoring of hydrogen concentration. Under relatively high H2partial pressure, acetate formation is reduced and the substrate is converted to propionic acid, butyric acid, and ethanol rather than methane. There is a symbiotic relationship between acetogenic bacteria and methanogens.

Group 4: Methanogens Methanogenic microorganisms grow slowly in wastewater and their generation times range from 3 days at 358C to as high as 50 days at 108C. Methanogens use a limited number of substrates that include acetate, H2, CO2,formate, methanol, and methylamines. All of these substrates are reduced to methylCoM (CH3SCoM), which is converted to CH4 by methylCoM reductase

 Hydrogenotrophic methanogens (i.e., hydrogen-using chemolithotrophs) convert hydrogen and carbon dioxide into methane CO2+4H2 CH4+2H2O Acetotrophic methanogens, also called acetatesplitting methanogens, convert acetate into methane and CO2. CH3COOH CH4+CO2 This group comprises two main genera: Methanosarcina, Methanothrix, and Methanosaeta. About two-thirds of methane is derived from acetate conversion by acetotrophic methanogens. The other third is the result of carbon dioxide reduction by hydrogen.

ORGANISM Acetivibrio,Clostridium,Ruminicoccus Clostridium,Ruminicoccus,Cellulomonas,T hermoanaerobacter Bacteroids,Butyrivibrio, Clostridium

ACTIVITY Cellulose Degradation Hemicellulose Degradation Starch degradation

Clostridium,Eubacteria Bacteroids,Butyrivibrio, Clostridium ,Selenomonas

Pectin Degradation Protein degradation

Up-Flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) Process

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB)

The upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) uses immobilized biomass to allow the retention of the sludge in the treatment system. The UASB-type digester consists of a bottom layer of packed sludge, a sludge blanket and an upper liquid layer. Wastewater flows upward through a sludge bed, which is covered with a floating blanket of active bacterial flocs. Settler screens separate the sludge flocs from the treated water and gas is collected at the top of the reactor. This process results in the formation of a compact granular sludge, which settles well and which withstands the shear force caused by the upflow of wastewater.

 The sludge is immobilized by the formation of highly settleable microbial aggregates that grow into distinct granules. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have shown that the granules are three-layered structures. The inner layer consists of Methanothrix-like cells, which may act as nucleation centers necessary for the initiation of granule development. The middle layer consists of bacterial rods that include both H2-producing acetogens and H2consuming organisms. The outermost layer consists of a mixture of rods, cocci, and filamentous microorganisms.

A:- exterior heterogenous layer with rods, filaments, and cocci. B:- second layer containing predominantly rods and cocci. C:- homogenous core containing a large number of cavities, surrounded by one bacterial morphology..

FACTORS CONTROLLING ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

1.Temperature Optimum temperature:-250C-500C 2. Retention Time depends on wastewater characteristics and environmental conditions From 10-60 days 3.pH Optimum pH: 7-7.2

Applications of Biogas
Biogas can be used readily in all applications designed for natural gas such as direct combustion including absorption heating and cooling, cooking, space and water heating, drying, and gas turbines. It may also be used in fueling internal combustion engines and fuel cells for production of mechanical work and/or electricity. If cleaned up to adequate standards is may be injected into gas pipelines and provide illumination and steam production. Finally, through a catalytic chemical oxidation methane can be used in the production of methanol production

References