Operating problems in anaerobic digestion plants resulting from nitrogen in MSW

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 30 - 43
• Main Authors: Fricke, Klaus, Santen, Heike, Wallmann, Rainer, Hüttner, Axel, Dichtl, Norbert
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2007; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bacteria, Anaerobic - physiology; Cities; Exact sciences and technology; General purification processes; Nitrogen - physiology; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Pollution; Refuse Disposal - instrumentation; Urban and domestic wastes; Waste Management - instrumentation; Wastes; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; Organic waste; Anaerobe; Urban waste; Solid waste; Nitrogen; Waste water purification; Anaerobic digestion; Research and development; Waste water
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2006.03.003

Organic waste and municipal solid waste usually contain considerable amounts of different nitrogen compounds, which may inhibit anaerobic degradation processes and cause problems in the downstream and peripheral devices. This refers particularly to the different process stages of anaerobic digestion, to wastewater treatment, and to exhaust air treatment. Neither the knowledge about nitrogen problems nor the technologies for elimination of nitrogen compounds from the wastewater or the exhaust air of anaerobic digestion can be regarded as state-of-the-art. Most of the technologies in question have already been applied in other areas, but are barely tested for application in anaerobic digestion plants. The few performance data and experiences at hand were mainly derived from pilot and demonstration facilities. In this paper, the problem of nitrogen will be discussed in detail according to the separate problem fields based on the authors’ experience, as well as on the basis of a review of the relevant literature. Furthermore, possible solutions will be proposed and the need for further research and development will be formulated.