Thermal hydrolysis pre-treatment has no positive influence on volatile fatty acids production from sewage sludge
Highlights:
- Raw and thermally pre-treated sludge were compared in terms of VFA production.
- In batch mode, pH 8 resulted the most favourable one for VFA production.
- VFA yield in batch tests resulted lower when sludge was thermally pre-treated.
- In continuous operation, raw and pre-treated sludge achieved similar VFA yield.
- Microbial key-players were alike independently of applying thermal pre-treatment.
