A critical review on inhibition of anaerobic digestion process by excess ammonia

作者：Rajagopal Rajinikanth; Masse Daniel I^*; Singh Gursharan

来源：Bioresource Technology, 2013, 143: 632-641.

DOI：10.1016/j.biortech.2013.06.030

• Anaerobic digestion
• Ammonia
• Inhibition
• Methanogens
• Nitrogen

Ammonia plays a vital role in the performance and stability of anaerobic digestion (AD) of N-rich organic-feedstock. Several research works were carried-out to study the effect of ammonia on the efficiency of AD of agro-food, industrial and livestock wastes/wastewater. However, excess ammonia remains a critical hitch in AD process. The mechanism of ammonia-inhibition has also been studied and there is no simple strategy available to mitigate ammonia-toxicity, when it exceeds threshold inhibition-level. For successful operation of AD systems at higher ammonia-level, adequate choice of temperature, control of pH and C/N ratio, and utilization of acclimatized-microflora to higher ammonia concentrations may ensure a stable and undisturbed digestion. This review provides a critical summary of earlier and recent research conducted on ammonia-inhibition during the anaerobic degradation of organic substrates, especially, at high ammonia concentrations. This article emphasizes that more profound knowledge on parameters influencing ammonia-inhibition is needed to apply appropriate control strategies.

• 出版日期2013-9