This study was conducted to evaluate the temperature effects on the nightsoil, anaerobic digestion, whether it could be operated with a higher organic loading rate at a higher temperature during summer months, or with a lower organic loading rate at a...
This study was conducted to evaluate the temperature effects on the nightsoil, anaerobic digestion, whether it could be operated with a higher organic loading rate at a higher temperature during summer months, or with a lower organic loading rate at a lower temperature during winter months. A laboratory completely mixed digester was continuously operated at 11 different temperatures from $18.5^{\circ}$ to $60^{\circ}C$ with 30 days of HRT. The study results indicated that the best efficiency occurred at a temperature range of $35^{\circ}$ to $40^{\circ}C$, at which BOD and VS removal efficiencies were respectively 71 and 53 percent, and gas production rate was $0.6m^3/kg$ VS fed or $16m^3/m^3$ fed. BOD removal efficiency would be increased to 78 percent if the digester effluent settled for 24 hours. Since the digester efficiency decreased beyond this temperature range, this suggested the digester need not to operate a higher temperature even during the summer months. The laboratory results were in good agreement with those of the existing digester operated at a temperature range of $32^{\circ}$ to $40^{\circ}C$. Application of septage or cow manure to the digester with nights oil at a rate of 1 to 1 did not greatly affect the digester performances. In addition, the digester effluent could be treated aerobically without any dillution water. BOD and SS removal efficiencies were greater than 90 percent in this case.