Anaerobic sludge from a full-scale biodigester: physico-chemical and organic characterization, and principal component analysis (PCA)

The biological transformation of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste into bioenergy yields a solid digested material known as anaerobic sludge, comprising a mixture of organic and inorganic substances. This sludge holds significant potential as a renewable resource for agricultural reuse. However, there is also the potential risk of contamination from this material in receiving environments. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the characteristics of this material to ensure compliance with local regulations regarding its soil application, aiming to avoid adverse environmental impacts and ensure proper and viable disposal. In this study, conducted to explore the characteristics of bottom sludge collected from a pilot-scale anaerobic biodigester, various parameters were analyzed. The biodigester in question had a capacity of 1300 liters and a useful volume of 1000 liters, digesting food waste and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in a ratio of 20% in terms of volatile solids from the macrophyte to the volatile solids of the food waste. A multivariate analysis was conducted on the following parameters: metals (Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Pb, Se, V, Zn, Na, and K); total, fixed, and volatile solids; alkalinity; volatile fatty acids; ammonia; Kjeldahl nitrogen (NTK); and organic, inorganic, and total carbon (COT), to observe possible correlations among these parameters. Additionally, the sludge underwent nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis for detection and characterization of organic compounds. This approach provided a deeper understanding of the properties of anaerobic sludge produced strictly under the aforementioned conditions, contributing to further research in the field.