초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Anaerobic digestion of sludge is one of the most widely used processes for biogas and energy production. Conventionally, anaerobic digesters are operated at 35 °C to overcome the hydrolysis rate-limiting step. However, the energy expenditure for heating anaerobic digesters may be significant. The feasibility of operating anaerobic digesters at low mesophilic temperature (20 °C) by combining sludge ozonation was studied. Operation of three anaerobic reactors for 350 days showed that integrating solids ozonation and anaerobic digestion at 20 °C led to a higher volatile suspended solids (VSS) destruction of 60% than anaerobic digestion at 35 °C with raw sludge. Methane production in the reactor at 20 °C with sludge ozonation was enhanced from 62.6 mL CH<SUB>4</SUB>/g VSS<SUB>in</SUB> to 71.3 mL CH<SUB>4</SUB>/g VSS<SUB>in</SUB> for the 35 °C digester without sludge ozonation. Energy analysis showed that the 20 °C-ozonated digester produced 35% more energy than the 35 °C digester, with a net energy balance of +174 GJ/d and +129 GJ/d, respectively. The 20 °C-ozonated digester had a higher Energy Sustainability Index (ESI) (2.88) than the 35 °C digester (2.33) suggesting a more energetically sustainable option.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Anaerobic digestion was operated at low mesophilic temperature (20 °C). </LI> <LI> To overcome the slow rate-limiting step of hydrolysis, sludge ozonation was performed. </LI> <LI> Higher volatile suspended solids (VSS) destruction of 60% was obtained at 20 °C with ozonation than at 35 °C with raw sludge. </LI> <LI> Energy efficiency of conventional anaerobic digester and at 20 °C combining sludge ozonation was evaluated. </LI> <LI> 35% more energy was produced at 20 °C with ozonation than at 35 °C with raw sludge. </LI> </UL> </P>