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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #187668
Title: ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE AND AGRICULTURAL WASTE AND THE EFFECT OF CO-DIGESTION WITH DAIRY COW MANURE

Author
item MACIAS-CORRAL, MARITZA - NMSU
item SAMANI, ZOHRAB - NMSU
item HANSON, ADRIAN - NMSU
item SMITH, GEOFFREY - NMSU
item FUNK, PAUL
item YU, HUI - NMSU
item LONGWORTH, JOHN - NMSU

Submitted to: Bioresource Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/3/2008
Publication Date: 11/1/2008
Citation: Macias-Corral, M.A., Samani, Z.A., Hanson, A.T., Smith, G.B., Funk, P.A., Yu, H.W., Longworth, J. 2008. Anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste and agricultural waste and the effect of co-digestion with dairy cow manure. Bioresource Technology. 99(17):8288-8293.

Interpretive Summary: Agricultural operations are increasingly large and specialized, resulting in waste concentrations that exceed the carrying capacity of the local environment, necessitating waste treatment. Waste treatment alternatives are sought that are both beneficial to the environment and economical. Wastes from different sources were combined in a novel system that separates treatment stages to optimize energy production. Methane gas production was 40 to 400% greater when wastes were combined. This method of alternative energy production can better offset agricultural and municipal waste treatment costs.

Technical Abstract: Anaerobic digestion of three different organic solid wastes was investigated with a two-phase pilot-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) system. The wastes were cow manure (CM), organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), and cotton gin waste (CGW). The OFMSW and CM were digested as single wastes and as combined wastes. The single waste digestion of CM resulted in 62 m3 of methane gas per ton of CM on dry weight basis. The single waste digestion of OFMSW produced 37 m3 of methane per ton of dry waste. Co-digestion of OFMSW and CM resulted in 172 m3 of methane per ton of dry waste. Co-digestion of CGW and CM produced 87 m3 of methane per ton of dry waste. Comparing the single waste digestions with co-digestion of combined wastes, it was shown that co-digestion resulted in higher methane gas yields. In addition, the co-digestion of wastes resulted in higher mass conversion and lower weight and volume of residual.