Reappraisal of chemical interference in anaerobic digestion processes

Anaerobic digestion is a process, which leads to energy generation as well as pollution minimization. Both industrial and agricultural wastes can be digested anaerobically due to the presence of biodegradable materials. However, the presence of potential chemical inhibitors has been identified as one of the primary factors contributing to process instability and reactor failure. Over the last decades, research has highlighted various inhibitory substances and their elucidated role and underlying inhibitory mechanism interfering with anaerobic processes. The present review summarizes the potential impact of different organic and inorganic toxicants on anaerobic digestion based on a survey of the literature. A better understanding of potential toxicants and their effects will lead to improvements in anaerobic digestion efficiency and process stability.