10.2.5 Total Solids (TS) and Volatile Solids (VS)
TS or VS values are usually expressed in mass percentage and determined through
proximate analysis. Total solid determination is performed by drying the sample
until its weight reaches a constant value. The temperature is usually set to
103–105
C (standards EN 12880 (2000) and APHA 2540 B (2540 SOLIDS
2017)). Through the drying process, the total solids are determined, but we do not
know how much would be the low molecular weight organic volatiles (which are
represented by low boiling substances, like volatile acids and alcohols) that are not
Fig. 10.2 pH trend in anaerobic digestion, together with other parameters (Jo et al. 2018)
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313
TS or VS values are usually expressed in mass percentage and determined through
proximate analysis. Total solid determination is performed by drying the sample
until its weight reaches a constant value. The temperature is usually set to
103–105
C (standards EN 12880 (2000) and APHA 2540 B (2540 SOLIDS
2017)). Through the drying process, the total solids are determined, but we do not
know how much would be the low molecular weight organic volatiles (which are
represented by low boiling substances, like volatile acids and alcohols) that are not
Fig. 10.2 pH trend in anaerobic digestion, together with other parameters (Jo et al. 2018)
10 Substrate Characterization in the Anaerobic Digestion Process
313