Effect of total solids content on anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge enhanced by high-temperature thermal hydrolysis

Total solids (TS) content may provide a regulatory strategy for optimizing anaerobic digestion enhanced by hightemperature thermal hydrolysis, but the role of TS content is not yet clear. In this study, the effect of TS content on the high-temperature thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion of sludge and its mechanism were investigated. The results showed that increasing the TS content from 2% to 8% increased the sludge solubility and methane production potential, reaching peak values of 26.6% and 336 +/- 6 mL/g volatile solids (VS), respectively. With a further increase in TS content to 12%, the strong Maillard reaction increased the aromaticity and structural stability of extracellular polymer substances, decreasing sludge solubility to 18.6%. Furthermore, the decrease in sludge biodegradability and the formation of inhibitory by-products resulted in a reduction in methane production to 272 +/- 4 mL/g VS. This article provides a new perspective to understand the role of TS content in the thermal hydrolysis of sludge and a novel approach to regulate the Maillard reaction.