Industrial applications of the IWA anaerobic digestion model No. 1 (ADM1)

Abstract

In this paper, the IWA anaerobic digestion model No. 1 (ADM1) is applied to two case studies from contract work on industrial treatment plants. The first was the assessment of acid addition for pH decrease and avoidance of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation in a paper mill fed UASB. The simulation work found, with a high degree of confidence, that acid dosing was neither economical for pH control, nor had any real effect on the CaCO3 levels present in the reactor. A specific calcium carbonate precipitation equation was added to the ADM1 to undertake this study. The second case study was an assessment of the benefits of thermophilic (as opposed to mesophilic operation) for reduced ammonia inhibition, improved stability and gas production in a solids digester at a gelatine production facility. Here, it was predicted that thermophilic operation could not attain either goal to a satisfactory extent. In addition to demonstrating the application of the ADM1 to the two systems, we have also assessed the predictions generated in the case studies in terms of quality and utility.