The object of this study was to evaluate the use of a compartmented anaerobic reactor to treat organic solid waste with low concentration of solids. The reactor with a total capacity of 2.200 liters, divided into 6 equal chambers, was operated at a solid retention time of 90 days. The organic solids used to feed the reactor were comprised by vegetable residues and sanitary sludge in the proportion 80% and 20% respectively. The mixture of these two types of residues after the humidity correction to 95% (percentage by weight) was used to feed the reactor. The removal efficiency of carbonaceous material was approximately 80% at an organic loading of 9.3 kg residual organic solids m-3 d-1. The rate of biogas production was 5.6 L kg-1substrate (wet weight) with a methane concentration of 50% by volume.
compartmented anaerobic reactor; biogas; organic solid waste
