The influence of pH in the hydrolytic stage of anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of urban solid waste

The influence of the pH in the first stage, the hydrolytic stage, of the anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of urban solid waste in a two phase anaerobic reactor was studied. The reactor was fed with a solution of the organic fraction of urban solid residues containing 5 to 7% solids. Four reactors with a working volume of 3 L were used, the experiments were done at three controlled pHs; 6, 7, and 8, and one with free pH, the temperature was keep at 37°C in all the experiments. The higher degradation of TSS and VSS was obtained in the reactors operated at pH 7 and 8; 75% degradation of TSS and 85% degradation of VSS. The volatile fatty acids were determined at the different pH conditions, no significant differences were found, and as was expected, the acetic acid was found at the higher value among them (from 25 to 29 g/L). According to the results obtained it is possible to conclude that in the case of the hydrolytic stage of the anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of urban solid waste it is not necessary to control the pH, the pH is kept stable by the buffer effect of the protein residues and other macromolecules present in the residue.