ANAEROBIC DIGESTER ENHANCEMENT
Methods and systems for enhancing anaerobic digestion of biosolids are described. In an embodiment, a method for enhancing anaerobic digestion of biosolids may include measuring an alkalinity to volatile acid ratio of a bulk of biosolids. The method may further include adding a magnesium compound to the bulk of biosolids to achieve an alkalinity to volatile acid ratio of greater than about 10.
1 . A method comprising:
measuring an alkalinity to volatile acid ratio of a bulk of biosolids; and
adding a magnesium compound to the bulk of biosolids to achieve an alkalinity to volatile acid ratio of greater than about 10.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bulk of biosolids includes biosolids accumulated in a wastewater treatment system.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the wastewater treatment system includes a municipal wastewater treatment system.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the bulk of biosolids include biosolids accumulated within an anaerobic digester system of the wastewater treatment system.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the magnesium compound is added to the bulk of biosolids within the anaerobic digester system of the wastewater treatment system.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein adding the magnesium compound to the bulk of biosolids includes adding the magnesium compound to the wastewater treatment system upstream of the anaerobic digester system.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bulk of biosolids include biosolids extracted from a wastewater treatment system for transportation.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein adding the magnesium compound to the bulk of biosolids includes adding the magnesium compound to the bulk of biosolids prior to extraction from the wastewater treatment system.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein adding the magnesium compound to the bulk of biosolids includes adding the magnesium compound to the bulk of biosolids after extraction from the wastewater treatment system.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnesium compound includes one or more of magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnesium compound includes magnesium hydroxide exhibiting an alkaline magnesium hydroxide purity of between about 85% to about 100%; a caustic magnesia activity of between about 50 seconds to about 1440 minutes.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnesium compound exhibits a particle size of between about 01. Micron to about 50 microns, and a specific surface area of between about 9 m2/g to about 200 m2/g.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adding the magnesium compound to the bulk of biosolids includes adding the magnesium compound to achieve an alkalinity to volatile acid ratio of greater than about 15.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adding the magnesium compound includes maintaining a pH within the mass of biosolids less than about 9.
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding one or more iron salts to the mass of biosolids.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more iron salts include one or more of ferrous chloride, ferric chloride, ferrous sulfate, ferric sulfate, and combinations thereof
17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding one or more of an organic acid, a biological catalyst, an enzyme, a polymer salt, an inorganic salt, and combinations thereof to the mass of biosolids.
18 . A method comprising:
measuring an alkalinity to volatile acid ratio of a bulk of biosolids;
adding a magnesium compound to the bulk of biosolids;
adding an iron salt to the bulk of biosolids; and
adjusting a concentration of the magnesium compound added to the bulk of biosolids to achieve an alkalinity to volatile acid ratio of greater than about 15.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein adding the magnesium compound to the bulk of biosolids includes adding the magnesium compound to an anaerobic digester system of a municipal wastewater treatment system.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein adding the magnesium compound to the bulk of biosolids includes adding the magnesium compound to a municipal wastewater treatment upstream of an anaerobic digester system of the municipal wastewater treatment system.