Biomethane production as an alternative bioenergy source from codigesters treating municipal sludge and organic fraction of municipal solid wastes.

Energy recovery potential of a mesophilic co-digester treating OFMSW and primary sludge at an integrated biomethanization plant was investigated based on feasibility study results. Since landfilling is still the main solid waste disposal method in Turkey, land scarcity will become one of the most important obstacles. Restrictions for biodegradable waste disposal to sanitary landfills in EU Landfill Directive and uncontrolled long-term contamination with gas emissions and leachate necessitate alternative management strategies due to rapid increase in MSW production.

High-rate anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater at ambient operating temperatures: A review on benefits and drawbacks.

This paper reviews the current knowledge on high-rate anaerobic sewage treatment at ambient operating temperatures while presenting the benefits and drawbacks. Since domestic sewage is reported as the main point-source pollutant on a global scale, its treatment deserves ample research. In most of the cities and towns of some developing countries, wastewater produced in households is still discharged into the nearest water body without subjected any treatment.

Co-digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste with primary sludge at a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Turkey.

Co-digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and sewage sludge may be an attractive alternative for sustainable management of two separate waste streams produced in large amounts in all countries. This study evaluates calculation-based results of an anaerobic co-digestion process for primary sludge (PS) together with the OFMSW. The calculations were carried out for the anaerobic digester of Kayseri municipal wastewater treatment plant (in Turkey) presently digesting only PS.

Identification of Archaeal population in the granular sludge of an UASB reactor treating sewage at low temperatures.

Effect of low temperature on up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor performance treating raw sewage was investigated in terms of the variations in methanogenic diversity using the 16S rRNA based Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (FISH) technique. The diversity of microorganisms present in the anaerobic granular sludge and the structure of the granules operated at 13 degrees C have been investigated using FISH combined with CSLM (Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy). According to FISH results, archaeal cells representing methanogens were found intensively dominant in the bottom sampling port of the UASB reactor and acetoclastic Methanosaeta was the abundant methanogen.

Advanced oxidation treatment of physico-chemically pre-treated olive mill industry effluent.

In this study, the applicability of physico-chemical methods was investigated for the pre-treatment of the olive mill effluents prior to the discharge into the common sewerage ending with a municipal wastewater treatment plant. The samples were taken from an olive oil industry operated as three-phase process located in Turkey. Various pre-treatment methods including acid craking, polyelectrolyte and lime additions were applied.

Behavior of the anaerobic CSTR in the presence of scum during primary sludge digestion and the role of pH.

Anaerobic digestion of the primary sludge with or without scum addition and the role of pH were evaluated in four completely stirred tank reactors (CSTR) operated as batch systems at 35 degrees C (mesophilic). For investigating the scum influence, two CSTRs were only fed with the primary sludge (PS) whereas the other CSTRs were composed of the primary sludge with 15% scum (PS+Scum). The pH in two reactors was fixed at 6.

The role of pH in mesophilic anaerobic sludge solubilization.

The effect of pH on anaerobic solubilization of synthetic sludge (dog food) and domestic primary sludge was investigated and compared. Anaerobic solubilization was carried out in Continuously Stirred Anaerobic Reactors at mesophilic temperature (35 degrees C) and pH was fixed at 6.5 (pH-controlled).