Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026

Measuring Biomethane Potential of Food Scrap Waste Anaerobically Co-Digested with Waste-Activated Sludge Using Respirometry
Published on: April 26, 2024
Biodegradability and mesophilic co-digestion of municipal sludge and scum
Bradley Young1, Robert Delatolla, Kevin Kennedy
1Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Abstract:
The objective of this study is to investigate and optimize the co-digestion of scum with thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) and primary sludge (PS) undergoing mesophilic anaerobic digestion. The effect of scum loading on the co-digestion of PS, TWAS and scum has shown to have a significant impact on the ultimate cumulative biogas production and on the specific biogas production between 20 and 40 days of digestion, while the effects of the scum holding time within the scum concentrator and temperature of the scum concentrator did not demonstrate a significant effect on the ultimate or specific biogas production. The study demonstrates that care must be taken to avoid inhibitory effects and potential souring of digesters due to scum overloading and specifically scum overloading in combination with long holding times of scum within the scum concentrator at elevated temperatures.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Bioplastics
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Microbes and Methanogenesis
Bioremediation

