Abstract
The principal objective of this investigation was to study the effects of temperature on organic matter removal in aerobic digestion. Chemostat-type bench-scale experimental reactors were used in this study. Digestion times were 6.7, 10, 15, 20 and 30 days. Digestion temperature were 5°C, 10°C, 15°C, 20°C, 25°C, 30°C, 35°C. The following conclusions can be drawn from the experimental results. At temperatures ranging from 10°C to 35°C, the digestion time longer than 15 days is needed to obtain the high substrate removal efficiency, while at a temperature of 5°C, the digestion time longer than 20 days is needed. The rate of sludge production from utilized BOD5 decreases as digestion temperature and time increase. This rate is rather small than that of conventional activated sludge. However, the amount of refractory organic compounds prodused in endogenous respiration markedly increases as digestion temperature and time increase.
