Pre-treatment and post-treatment strategies for enhancing anaerobic digestion in poultry slaughterhouse wastewater management

Over the years, anaerobic digestion (AD) has proven to be an effective method for breaking down organic materials, reducing sludge, and generating renewable energy. However, its application in treating poultry slaughterhouse wastewater (PSWW) faces challenges, particularly due to the high concentrations of fats, oils, grease (FOG) around 400 – 1110 mg/L, and ammonia around 25–90 mg/L (initial concentration), which can inhibit the AD process. Additionally, even after AD, residual nutrients in the treated wastewater can lead to environmental issues such as eutrophication and methemoglobinemia if discharged untreated. This review explores the effects of FOG and ammonia on AD, along with the influence of nutrient levels on water bodies. It evaluates potential pre-treatment methods to enhance degradation by challenges posed by FOG and ammonia. Additionally, the review discusses post-treatment options to mitigate nutrient-related issues. Finally, this study concludes with a discussion of future perspectives.