ABSTRACT
The effects of mild pretreatment at temperature of 100 degrees C on the solubilization anP anaerobic digestibility of high solid sludge with low organic content were studied with the variation of heating times. Experimental results show soluble organic concentrations in supernatant increase with the prolonging of thermal pretreatment time rapidly, and slowly after 30 min. The dissolution rates of COD, protein and carbohydrate with 30 min of thermal pretreatment at 100 degrees C were 10.5%, 11.6% and 8.2%, respectively. Mild thermal pretreatment not only enhanced total methane yield, but also advanced the peak time of methane production. The methane production ratio with 30 min of thermal hydrolysis was 136 mL.g-1 (VS) at day 10 of anaerobic digestion, with an 86% increase over the control group. VS reduction ratio after 30 days anaerobic digestion o also increased to 33.3% with 30 min of thermal pretreatment at 100 degrees C compared with 19.1% in control group. In addition, studies on enzymatic activity indicated the activities of four key enzymes (protease, acetokinase, phosphotransacetylase and coenzyme F420) involved in anaerobic digestion were all enhanced by mild thermal pretreatment.
