Biogas Recovery from Sewage Sludge during Anaerobic Digestion Process: Effect of Iron powder on Methane yield

Abstract

The management of sewage sludge remains a great challenge in developing countries; as it hinder the development mainly in the big towns. Here we have conducted the anaerobic digestion experiment for recovering methane gas from sewage sludge. Iron power (IP) was applied and its impact of methane yield was investigated. Results showed that sewage sludge is a reservoir of energy in the form of methane gas. Methane recovery was greatly improved by adding IP in the AD reactor, as up to 141917.5 mL kg-1 VS could be recovered when IP is properly used compared to 98783.4 mL kg-1 VS in the blank. More specifically, methane yield was upgraded by 9.2%, 28.6% and 43.6% respectively at the dose rate of 0.3 g IP, 1 g IP and 3 g IP in 300 g of sludge (wet weight). Results also show that over dose concentration of IP (addition of 6 g IP) exercises a strong negative impact on AD process and methane yield.