Effect of composition on anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid wastes: A review

Anaerobic digestion is an efficient and a viable option for treatment of organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (OFMSW). The composition of OFMSW plays a vital role in its anaerobic biodegradability and it affects the microbial community responsible for the degradation of complex organic compounds to methane. This review paper investigates the effects of composition in terms of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins on anaerobic digestion of OFMSW. The paper presents various problems caused by different organic components and presents the mitigation strategies. The review shows that anaerobic process is prone to inhibitions caused by high concentration of lipids and proteins. Optimizing the organic composition of OFMSW can lead to higher biogas production and better stabilization of the digester. The review shows that understanding the effect of organic composition on anaerobic digestion can help in designing efficient and sustainable biogas plants for OFMSW treatment.