Occurrence mechanisms and control methods of foaming in anaerobic digesters treating organic wastes

LI Lei; HUANG Qian; YANG Ping-jin; ZHANG Hong; PENG Yun; PENG Xu-ya; WANG Xiao-ming

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China Environmental Science ›› 2020, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (8) : 3475-3485.

Solid Waste

Occurrence mechanisms and control methods of foaming in anaerobic digesters treating organic wastes

LI Lei, HUANG Qian, YANG Ping-jin, ZHANG Hong, PENG Yun, PENG Xu-ya, WANG Xiao-ming

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Abstract

Analysis of the occurrence mechanisms and control methods of anaerobic digestion (AD) foam can be helpful to solve the foaming problem in AD of organic waste. Based on the investigation of the foaming incidents occurred in recent years, the occurrence mechanisms under different substrates, operational and environmental conditions were analyzed from the perspectives of substrate properties, digester configuration and operational conditions, as well as digestion process-related characteristics. Moreover, the rationality of parameters that can be used for foaming risk indicators was discussed, including the concentration/abundance of filamentous bacteria, surface tension, viscosity, organic loading rate, foam potential and stability. Finally, the principles, advantages and disadvantages of major defoaming methods (physical, mechanical, biological and chemical methods) were introduced and compared. At present, the primary causes of AD foaming are not yet clear except in sludge digestion systems. This situation limits the subsequent development of foaming control methods in other AD systems. In future, the exploration of specific foaming-related microorganisms or investigation on the relationship between the biosurfactants and foaming incidents, will be useful to reveal the foaming mechanism from a new perspective, develop goal-oriented foaming risk assessment methods and foaming alleviation strategies.

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anaerobic digestion / defoaming methods / foam / foaming potential / organic waste

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LI Lei, HUANG Qian, YANG Ping-jin, ZHANG Hong, PENG Yun, PENG Xu-ya, WANG Xiao-ming. Occurrence mechanisms and control methods of foaming in anaerobic digesters treating organic wastes[J]. China Environmental Science. 2020, 40(8): 3475-3485

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