Development of a kinetic model for anaerobic dry digestion processes: Focus on acetate degradation and moisture content

Abstract The objective of this work is to develop a kinetic model to specifically assess the degradation of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) in dry anaerobic digestion processes. The model description was designed to include several aspects of dry digestion such as the presence of particulate matter and high solid content. The global structure of the kinetic model proposed here is based on the ADM1 (Anaerobic Digestion Model n° 1) which has been modified in order to include specific characteristics of dry media. Batch experimental data of methane production with acetate as organic substrate under dry mesophilic conditions have been obtained and used to calibrate the kinetic parameters associated to acetate uptake. The model was shown to simulate well batch degradation of acetate and methane production in dry mode. The biochemical parameters associated to acetate degradation kinetics were the maximal acetate uptake rate ( k m X ac ) and the half-saturation constant K S ac . After calibration, the value of k m X ac was 440 mg COD  kg −1  d −1 and K S ac was 290 mg COD  kg −1 for a moisture content (MC) of 82%. The value of K s was found to be higher in dry digestion than the recommended value in wet digestion. It increased from 290 mg COD  kg −1 at 82% MC up to 2000 mg COD  kg −1 at 65% MC. This result was attributed to diffusion limitations due to the singular “pasty” aspect of the digesting medium.