Florida Wastewater Practice Test

How can one confirm that anaerobic digestion is effective?

1. By measuring the temperature regularly

2. By assessing the clarity of the effluent

3. By checking the gas production rates

4. By evaluating the pH levels

The correct answer is: By checking the gas production rates

Confirming the effectiveness of anaerobic digestion relies heavily on monitoring gas production rates. During anaerobic digestion, microorganisms break down organic material in the absence of oxygen, which results in the production of biogas, primarily composed of methane and carbon dioxide. High gas production rates indicate that the microbial activity is optimal and that the digestion process is efficiently converting organic matter into biogas. Increased gas production signifies a healthy microbial population and effective degradation of substrates, making it a crucial parameter to monitor. The other factors listed might provide some insight into the process but do not directly indicate the success of anaerobic digestion. For instance, temperature and pH levels are important for maintaining optimal conditions but do not alone confirm digestion effectiveness. Meanwhile, assessing the clarity of the effluent primarily relates to treatment efficiency rather than the specific success of anaerobic digestion. Therefore, monitoring gas production rates is the most reliable method for assuring the effectiveness of anaerobic digestion.