OPTIMIZATION OF BIOGAS PRODUCTION IN THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT BY USING
CENTRAL COMPOSITE DESIGN (CCD).
Abstract
Most digesters in industrial-scale operate in deficient level and almost
nominal due to inefficient process. Optimization of the process may
rectify the issue but required a valid method that does not just improve
the process yet able to unravel the eventuality of the intricate process
if the adjustment needed. A proper tool is required. The central
composite design (CCD) was implemented in this study to investigate the
suitability of this tool for optimization of anaerobic digestion (AD)
process. The main effect of pH and HRT studied in CCD acquired from the
screening process show the importance of having neutral pH value and
long retention period for a better biogas yield. The process with pH 7.0
and HRT 15.7 days, IP 33%, TS 4% and FR 4% found to be the optimum
setting for the process. The new setting successfully improved the
production output up to 60% compared with baseline (existing setting),
while allowing 50% more sludge to be processed. The X2 goodness-of-fit
test indicates that the mathematical model applied in this study is
valid at 95% of confidence level with R2 of 0.9. The results presented
in the paper demonstrate the reliability of CCD as optimization tools
for AD process in the industrial scale sewage treatment plant (STP).