EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PROPORTIONS OF INITIAL AND ACTIVATED SLUDGE ON METHANE PRODUCTION DURING ANAEROBIC DIGESTIONMd. Nurul Islam Siddique, Mohd. Zamri Bin Ibrahim, Md Rabiul Awal, Mohd Mokhlesur Rahman and Y. M. SalihAbstract The present study pointed out the investigation of methane generation utilizing various extents of initial sludge (IS) and activated sludge (AS) for anaerobic transformation. Three experimental ratios (IS: AS) (v/v) were done: C1 (60: 40), C2 (80: 20) and C3 (100: 00) to assess the best combination in examination with a benchmark combination, C0 (40: 60). Anaerobic digestion was carried out in mesophilic states (37 ºC) with an HRT of 12 days and a loading rate of 1.63 ± 0.06 kg TVS/m3 day. Biogas generation for ratios C1 and C2 enhanced from 25 to 38% in examination with C0. An obvious improvement was observed in specific methane generation with the maximum amount produced by combination C3, which was 52.44% more than that of C0. The most reasonable combination to be applied at a practical scale is C1, applying a lower initial sludge and increase activated sludge condensing. The time required to recover expenditures was observed as 3.72 y. |