Diverting the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) away from landfills has become a major and urgent priority throughout North America.  High efficiency semi-continuous thermal hydrolysis is proposed to treat MSW creating an operationally and financially attractive option as a high solid organic feedstock stream for anaerobic digestion (AD).

Anaerobic digestion has long been an effective method for organic waste treatment.  However, when it comes to using the OFMSW as a feedstock, it has encountered major challenges.  Thermal hydrolysis value as a pre-treatment to increase biogas production, reduce residence time and resulting in an homogeneous, stable, and pathogen free substrate for anaerobic digestion will be discussed.