Application of low-strength ultrasonication to the continuous anaerobic digestion processes: UASBr and dry digester

Si Kyung Cho, Dong Hoon Kim, In Seok Jeong, Hang Sik Shin, Sae Eun Oh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this study, the positive effects of low-strength ultrasonication (LS-ultrasonication) on the anaerobic digestion (AD) performance were investigated by continuously operating an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASBr) and a dry digester. In the ultrasonicated UASBr system (1s per min, 0.05W/mL), ultrasonication enhanced the CH4 production by 38% and 19% in an ambient and a mesophilic condition, respectively. In addition, a different sludge yield and a changed electron flow were observed after ultrasonication. In the ultrasonicated dry digestion system (2s per 30s, 0.0025W/mL), a 40% increase in the production of CH4 was observed after lowering the total solid content of the reactor from 12% to 10%, implying that a high solid content diminished the ultrasonic stimulation effect. Moreover, the ultrasonication strength itself appeared to be a more crucial factor than the ultrasonication density during the application of LS-ultrasonication in the AD system.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)167-173
Number of pages7
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume141
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2013

Keywords

  • AD performance
  • Dry digester
  • Methanogenic activity
  • UASBr
  • Ultrasonication

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