Anaerobic digestion of organic solid wastes. An overview of research achievements and perspectives

The technology of anaerobic digestion of organic solid wastes is, in many aspects, mature. Topics such as fundamentals (kinetics, modelling, etc.), process aspects (performance, two- and single-phase systems, wet and dry technologies), digestion enhancement (several pre-treatments), co-digestion with other substrates and its relation to composting technology are examined in this review. Special attention is paid to the advantages of anaerobic digestion in limiting the emission of greenhouse gases. An overview of industrial achievements and future developments is given.