Abstract
Anaerobic digestion at the temperature of $35-55^{\circ}C$ was conducted using an artificial sludge of uniform composition. The hydraulic retention time of 5 days was chosen because the temperature effect was effectively shown at a high loading. Inhibition of the methane fermentation decreased as the temperature increased. Acid fermentation was prevalent at the mesophilic and intermediate temperatures, while active methane fermentation took place at $55^{\circ}C$. Temperature not only affects activity of the microorganisms, but also affects physical and chemical properties of the sludge, Digestion inhibition was much reduced when the feed sludge was diluted, and active methane fermentation was possible at all temperatures. The digestion efficiency was governed by the organic loading rate as well as the hydraulic 10ading rate. No reduction of the digestion efficiency at $40-45^{\circ}C$, which had been referred to a critical temperature range, was observed. The digestion efficiency increased monotonically from mesophilic to thermophilic range. Improved settling properties of digested sludge was also recorded at higher temperatures.
혐기성소화(嫌氣性消化)에 미치는 온도(溫度)의 영향(影響)을 가장 효과적으로 파악할 수 있는 체류시간(滯留時間) 5일(日)에서 인공(人工)슬러지를 대상으로 $35{\sim}55^{\circ}C$의 소화실험(消化實驗)을 행하였다. 소화온도증가(消化溫度增加)에 따라 메탄발효(醱酵)의 저해(沮害)가 감소하여, 중온(中溫) 및 중간영역(中間領域)의 온도(溫度)에서는 잔발효(酸醱酵)가 우세하였으나 $55^{\circ}C$에서는 활발한 메탄발효(醱酵)가 이루어졌다. 온도(溫度)의 변화(變化)는 미생물활성(微生物活性)뿐 아니라 슬러지의 물리(物理), 화학적(化學的) 특성(特性)에도 영향(影響)을 미친다고 추정된다. 또한 유입(流入) 슬러지의 희석(稀釋)에 의하여 소화저해(消化沮害)가 크게 감소하여 모든 온도(溫度)에서 활발한 메탄발효(醱酵)가 가능하였다. 소화효율(消化效率)은 수리학적(水理學的) 부하량외(負荷量外)에 유기물부하량(有機物負荷量)에도 지배받음을 알 수 있었다. 소화효율(消化效率)의 급격한 저해(沮害)가 발생된다고 보고된 $40{\sim}45^{\circ}C$에서도 뚜렷한 저해(沮害)는 없었다. 한편 소화온도증가(消化溫度增加)에 따라 소화(消化)슬러지의 침강특성(沈降特性)도 향상되었다.