Title: Anaerobic Digestion technologies for the treatment of Municipal Solid Waste

Authors: Joshua L. Rapport; Ruihong Zhang; Robert B. Williams; Bryan M. Jenkins

Addresses: Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. ' Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. ' Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. ' Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA

Abstract: Anaerobic Digestion (AD) of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is used in several regions worldwide and systems span a range of design options including wet, dry, thermophilic, mesophilic, batch, continuous, single-stage, and multi-stage configurations. This paper reviews a number of commercial and emerging solid waste digestion systems discussing performance and costs. Systems yield 250–710 m³ of biogas per tonne of VS at rates of 1–6 m³/m³/d with methane content of 55–65%, depending on MSW composition. Economies of scale have been shown for system costs. Economic viability depends heavily on capital and operating costs, tipping fees and product/co-product revenues.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; biogas; MSW; municipal solid waste; waste treatment; review; organic; USA; United States; economies of scale.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2012.044163

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2012 Vol.9 No.1/2, pp.100 - 122

Published online: 13 Dec 2014 *

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