Proceedings

Anaerobic Digestion Process.
• Anaerobic digestion has been used for waste treatment for over 100 years.
• There is considerable experience and most large sewage treatment works have anaerobic digesters.
• Energy recovery has always been part of the process although the pasteurization, volume reduction and improved dewatering of the sewage solids has been more important.
• Unlike aerobic treatment, anaerobic digestion is a sequential process, which relies on a synergistic consortium of different micro-organisms for each stage.
• These activities need to be closely coordinated for the successful breakdown of biomass/sludge