Enhanced Anaerobic Digestion of Kitchen Waste with Activated Carbon: Performance and Mechanisms under Varying Total Solids and Organic Loading Rates

Siyu Yang; Tong Zhang; Bowen Wu; Li Feng

doi:10.54097/yx6van18

Authors

Siyu Yang
Tong Zhang
Bowen Wu
Li Feng

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/yx6van18

Keywords:

Kitchen waste; activated carbon; dry anaerobic digestion; direct interspecies electron transfer.

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a key technology for kitchen waste (KW) treatment in China. To enhance AD efficiency under the current carbon neutrality goals, this study investigated the effects and mechanisms of activated carbon addition under varying total solids (TS) contents and organic loading rates (OLRs). The results showed that activated carbon improved system buffering capacity, increased methane yield by up to 37.72%, and allowed stable operation at high OLRs (up to 13.5 gVS/(L·d)), with volatile solids (VS)degradation rates exceeding 85%. Functional groups and metal elements on the activated carbon surface enhanced alkalinity and electron transfer, accelerating volatile fatty acid (VFA) degradation and methane production. Microbial analysis revealed that activated carbon enriched syntrophic VFA-degrading bacteria and methanogens, particularly promoting the acetoclastic pathway through Methanosaeta. Moreover, the establishment of direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) among Anaerolinea, Bacteroides, Streptoides, and methanogens further improved electron transfer efficiency. Overall, activated carbon effectively enhances the stability and performance of high-TS AD systems treating KW.

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