Anaerobic Digestion Research Paper

Methane is the final product of Anaerobic Digestion. A mixture of methane and carbon dioxide is called a biogas and it can be used for heating and can be used as a natural gas. Anaerobic treatment systems are divided into “high rate” systems involving biomass retention and “low rate” systems without biomass retention. High rate systems are characterized by a relatively short hydraulic retention time but long sludge retention time and can be used to treat many types of wastewater. Low rate systems are generally used to digest solid wastes and are characterized by a long hydraulic retention time, equal to the sludge retention time. Methane is produced through the process of anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic microbiological decomposition is a process in which micro-organisms need energy so they grow by metabolizing organic material in an oxygen free environment resulting in the production of methane. Anaerobic digestion is a biological process, it’s strongest influences are environmental factors. Things such as Temperature, pH, alkalinity, and toxicity are the main control factors. Anaerobic digestion can occur at temperatures as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but the rate of methane production increases with higher temperature. The first steps of anaerobic digestion can occur at a wide range of pH …show more content…
The anaerobic digestion process can be split up into the following four phases, each requiring its own characteristic group of micro-organisms: 1) Hydrolysis: the conversion of non-soluble biopolymers to soluble organic compounds. 2) Acidogenesis: conversion of soluble organic compounds of volatile fatty acids. 3) Acetogensis: conversion of volatile fatty acids to acetate and hydrogen. 4) Methaneogenesis: conversion of acetate and carbon dioxide plus hydrogen to methane