Effect of alkaline pretreatment on anaerobic digestion of olive mill solid wasteEffect of alkaline pretreatment on anaerobic digestion of olive mill solid waste Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2018-06-282016enThe present study evaluates the influence of alkaline (NaOH) pretreatment on anaerobic digestion of olive pomace. Batch hydrolysis experiments with different NaOH dosages, process durations and temperatures were conducted, in which the variation of olive pomace solubilization in the liquid phase was investigated. The effect of pretreatment on anaerobic digestion was studied through biochemical methane potential assays. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the NaOH pretreatment in improving olive pomace solubilization as well as its biodegradability. Maximum specific methane yields were achieved at different NaOH dosages depending on the pretreatment temperature. Consequently, it was concluded that the two operating parameters of the pretreatment stage (NaOH dosage and temperature) may exert a joint effect on substrate biodegradability and methane yields. The highest methane yield (242 NmL CH4/gVS) was obtained for the material pretreated at 90 °C, at a dosage of 1 mmol/gVS (4% of VS).http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Waste Management58160-168 Pellera Frantseska-Maria Πελλερα Φραντσεσκα-Μαρια Santori Sofia Pomi, Raffaella Polettini Alessandra Gidarakos Evaggelos Γιδαρακος Ευαγγελος Elsevier Agroindustrial Anaerobic digestion Chemical Lignocellulosic Olive Pretreatment