Energy recovery from municipal solid waste in an anaerobic reactor

Anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste was carried out in the laboratory at room temperature to assess the bio-energy production from municipal solid waste (MSW) with high total solids content. The total biogas production from the municipal garbage was found to be 3.2 L in 120 days. The results from the biomethanation process showed that an increase in gas production was observed with increase in digestion period when the bioconversion parameters were found to be favorable for the production of gas. Changes in the parameters, such as pH, affected the production of gas significantly. Samples taken from the reactor at definite interval of time during the degradation process showed considerable reduction in total volatile solids, total carbon, total nitrogen and COD, etc. indicating the waste stabilization.