Biogas production from the sludge of the municipal wastewater treatment plant of Adrar city (southwest of Algeria)

This study deals with the treatment and valorization of sludge issued from the municipal wastewater treatment plant of Adrar city (southwest of Algeria). The sludge considered was a complex mixture of substances, essentially organic matters with a rate of 54%. An acute biological activity of the crude substrate was noted (1.67 10(6) germs/1 ml). The diluted sludge with a content of 16 g/l of total solids (TS) was fermented in a digester of one litter capacity under anaerobic conditions during 33 days. The quantity of biogas produced was 280.31 Nml with a yield of 30 Nml of biogas/mg of COD removed. The COD, BOD and TS reduction yields were 88, 90 and 81% respectively, followed by a complete destruction of the pathogenic flora particularly Escherichia coli. This study presented an important energetic opportunity by producing 30,950 KWh. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.